Ajay Devgan has been playing his cards well. His films are faring well at the box office -- he has already given the industry two hits this year, Bhoot and Qayamat -- while long-delayed films like Chori Chori (with Rani Mukerji) and Parwana (Amisha Patel) are also finally making it to the marquee. To top it, Devgan recently won his second National award for his performance in Rajkumar Santoshi's The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, his first being in Mahesh Bhatt's Zakhm.

The actor, who has proved himself with his versatile performances, spoke to Subhash K Jha about Chori Chori, which releases on August 1.

Chori Chori is finally releasing this Friday...

Yes. It should have released long ago, but producer Raju Narula died, leaving behind liabilities worth around Rs 8 crore [approximately US $1.7 million]. I'm glad the financial problems have been sorted out.

Chori Chori is a light romantic film. It falls in the smile-on-your-face genre of one of my films, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha [opposite Kajol]. There is no slapstick comedy or heavy-duty melodrama. It's a feel-good romantic comedy.

Very fine. Chori Chori is my first film with Rani. I am doing two other films with her: LoC and Mani Ratnam's next.

There has been a major improvement in her as an actor. The same is true of me too, I guess. You have to be open to new ideas and experiments. That's the only way to grow as an actor.

Your earlier film with director Milan Luthria, Kachche Dhaage, was a surprise hit.

Yes. People tried to write it off, but the fact is it made profits for its producer Tips at a time when all their films had failed. The same goes for my production Hindustan Ki Kasam, which was directed by my father [Veeru Devgan]. Though it was declared a flop, it is still bringing an overflow for my company.

I play a strong, energetic character who thinks he can bring a change in society. He thinks he can get rid of the rubbish in our political system. He is an intellectual rebel. I love my role! It's the story of three young people: Abhishek [Bachchan] and Vivek [Oberoi] and me, and how our lives get influenced by each other.

My role in Rajkumar Santoshi's Khakee will surprise the audience.

That can't be helped. Films are ready and they have to be released. I can't stop them for my personal reasons.

It's a great feeling! Fatherhood makes me feel more responsible. I want to get back home as soon as possible. Every time I shoot outside Mumbai, all I think is how to get back to my wife [Kajol] and baby [Nysa]. She's just three months old and cannot travel with me. Nysa is named after a Greek goddess. I chose it. I had it in mind for the last six years!

Nysa's arrival has brought me great luck. I have just won my second National award.

At the moment, she is too occupied with the baby to think of anything else. But I have no objection to her pursuing a career as long as she can balance it well with her home.