A Conversation with Dino Morea
Rubina A. Khan
Rubina A. Khan
28 Jul, 2009
“I’m bored with reports on dinners with exes and present girlfriends”
Q You have diversified into merchandising and film production of late, apart from your successful restaurant business, with films releasing few and far between. Are you planning to go off the Bollywood radar?
A Not at all! I have not moved away from acting. I love acting. It’s just that as an actor, I have the opportunity to diversify into various avenues connected to the media. I started the restaurant business with my brother Nicolo, who oversees operations, and I look into the marketing aspect. In fact, we plan to open 150-200 Crepe Stations all over in the next five years. The merchandising business happened during a chance conversation with Pidlite’s Malay Parekh and we formed ‘Cool Maal’ together, a company which deals in sports celeb merchandising. This concept is very new to India but is a huge business in the West. We have signed on cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni so far, and intend to open ‘Cool Maal’ stores all over the country very soon. It is still in its nascent stage. I am a dreamer and very ambitious. I want my yacht, private plane and a garage load of fancy cars!
Q Despite good looks, a fab body and fair acting skills, big hits continue to evade you, aside from Raaz in 2002. What went wrong?
A I just didn’t get the pick of the lot. As an outsider, I learnt you have to be more selective about the filmmakers you work with early on. I have done 16 films so far and am still riding on Raaz’s success. My big hit is yet to come and I won’t give up till it does. I feel my time has come. I have Acid Factory and Pyaar Impossible releasing this year and I have two more films that shall commence soon.
Q You are very friendly with Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan, both of who wield immense clout in the industry. But you have never been part of their projects. Why?
A SRK and Karan are both good friends of mine. At the same time, it is their decision to cast me in projects, not for me to ask them to do so. It’s business at the end of the day and it does not affect my relationship with them.
Q What do you have to say about your romantic liaisons?
A I’m bored with reports on dinners with exes and present girlfriends. These have ceased to affect me and I am beyond caring about such stories now. I don’t bother about it.
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