It's been a rough year so far.

Despite what you might have read, there have been no real hits in 2007 so far. Yet, Namastey London director Vipul Shah is optimistic about his new film.

The film stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. Raja Sen caught up with Shah to see what makes this film interesting. Excerpts:

First of all, what in the world is a 'Funjabi?'

Ha. Well, Akshay plays Arjun, and he's a Punjabi boy full of fun. He's very cool, and completely in love with all things Indian. So I thought the term Funjabi made sense.

And that would make Akshay a natural casting decision?

Exactly! He's a great actor and I really enjoy working with him. But the fact is that when you want to cast a Punjabi boy, the first name that comes to mind is that of Akshay Kumar.

So it's another frolicking role for him? What's different for Akshay this time, seeing as you always try to tap some hidden reserve from the actor?

Well, it's not just about fun. His character goes through a huge emotional journey as well. To me, Arjun is the most modern hero Indian cinema has ever seen. You'll understand this when you see the film.

Wow. That's a tall order. And Jazz, his woman, would be described as...

As the posters say, she's a British brat. She looks at London as her motherland. Which is natural, since she was born and brought up in London. But it's not just about a London-India clash. Like Arjun, she also believes India is great. Yet their relationship is more complex: there is absolutely no compatibility between them, no common ground.

They come from different dimensions, and have different thinking patterns. It's not as if the Indian is right or the Westerner is right, but they both have valid points of view.

And what in particular made you think of Katrina?

A lot of factors. I think she looks great with Akshay, for one. Then there's the background: she's a bit Western, a bit Indian, and can properly portray the mixture of sensibilities. And I wanted the character to speak in broken Hindi, with a bit of a Brit accent.

The film's release date had been pushed back for a couple of months. Are you finally satisfied with the end product?

Oh yeah. Not just me, but the whole team is satisfied with Namastey London. Now, all we want is a hit and then that's it: happiness! (Smiles)

You've been quoted as saying you don't want to repeat yourself at all. You've made Aankhen, a thriller, and Waqt, a family drama. Now, here comes a romantic comedy. But if you stick to this method, won't you run out of genres?

No way! I don't think any director can run out of genres! There's so much to do. I just never, ever want to repeat myself.

What if you get a great script for a thriller? Would you not make it just because you've already made an Aankhen?

Of course I would, but I would really have to want that script desperately. It would have to be a really great thriller that I feel very passionately about. I'd just feel a bit lazy about making Aankhen 2. (Pauses) But that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it if a really good script came along.

Coming back to Akshay, what do you like best about him as an actor?

For one, he has no definite style. That's rare for superstars, who are usually recognised by their mannerisms. And this great quality makes him very unpredictable. You don't know what he's going to do next, and there's no particular Akshay gesture. There's a natural, fluid quality to his acting. And he is very versatile, an equally good comic actor as well as action star.

So what are your favourite Akshay films, outside of the ones you've made?

Well, Hera Pheri of course, because it's a very different and difficult role. It showed off his comic timing and his natural, easygoing acting.

Then there's Khakee, which is a really tough role. He had to play a corrupt man, a grey role, but still make it consistently funny. And he was amazing in Garam Masala, where, if you look closely, you realise that as an actor he's approached the role very uniquely. It's a super performance.