The name is:
Arshad Warsi
Claim to fame:
Model and actor, made his debut in Tere Mere Sapne and was recently seen in Jaani Dushman.
How Net savvy are you on a scale of one to ten?
I'm quite Net savvy. I'd give myself an eight.
What do you enjoy doing online?
The Net is my first source of information. It's right there in my bedroom, my closest source. Whenever I want something, I get online. Like now that I'm going to Sri Lanka for the cricket matches, I've used the Net to glean every little detail -- I know everything about the match, about that country, what I can buy around the place etc. Also, email is the best thing for people like me who are very bad at keeping in touch, writing letters or calling up. It's just fantastic -- a click, and the deed's done.
What's your daily routine like? How much time do you spend online?
I don't have a daily routine. Unlike some guys who are addicted to the Net, I use it only when I need it. I leave for my shooting in the morning and reach home late at night, so getting online daily is not feasible.
What's your idea of a perfect Web site?
One that loads quickly and is colourful. The site should look appealing. If it's plain black and white, it'll look like a text. Animation is fun.
Any favourite sites?
I like Google. It's so user-friendly. I don't know of any other site that's so convenient. It's so easy to figure something out even if you aren't Net savvy. The other day somebody wanted a picture of mine and all I had to do was enter my name in the box, and every little thing ever written on me, any tit bit in any paper or magazine came up.
Ever been ego-surfing?
I don't do that. It's not me at all. The only time I access sites on me is when someone needs a picture. I tell them, 'Go here or access this and you'll get it.' The stuff that's put up about me is 80 per cent correct.
Is there something you'd like to buy or sell online?
No. Once I wanted to buy an antique telescope, one that's very old and powerful. But the hitch was I did not have any idea of the real price. If it cost a thousand, I'd probably bid for 5,000 bucks and they'd say, "Go take it, you idiot!" So I didn't take the chance.
What do you love most about the Internet? What do you hate about it?
The Net is the best thing to happen since the invention of the phone. Maria and I planned our month long vacation in America online -- which hotel we'd stay at, what we'd
do, where we'd go, everything. We used our credit card online. It was a fabulous holiday and everything went off perfectly. The Net made it easy to get things organised.
Porno sites are a problem, though. They piss me off because there's no way of getting out of them easily. You've got to go through lots of popups. Once a friend wanted me to check out some of her snaps in Miss Universe Canada. I logged on and an ad popped up saying "Some More Pictures". I clicked, and bang, porn came up. Then there are those that say 'Buy this camera', 'Buy that gadget'. If I want something, I'll buy it. Please don't push me. When unwanted stuff keeps popping up, it irritates me.
If you could change anything about the Internet, what would it be?
I wish things would load much faster. When I surf in my friend's house in America, it's so quick. I wish we could have that facility here.
Any strange experience online?
Once I was checking out stuff on a car, and out of nowhere the screen screamed at me, "You have just won a free car." Gosh! For a moment I was really taken aback... was kinda shocked.
Is there any one celebrity you'd love to chat online with?
Madonna. She's quite a lady. Has a strange mind too. She impresses me. She does
what she wants to with conviction. Chatting with her would be interesting.
