I was the first who suggested Kareena for UdtaPunjab-Shahid

Says Shahid Kapoor who is reuniting with his Shandaar heroine in Abhishek Chaubey's next, which also stars Kareena Kapoor whose name he suggested.

You want tea, coffee, cappuccino, drugs..." These are Shahid Kapoor's opening lines, delivered with a laugh. In cargos and Tee, his hair disheveled, the actor looks in character for Abhishek Chaubey's drug drama, Udta Punjab, which rolls in March. "I'm still see-sawing between Shandaar and Udta Punjab," he quips. "I hated it when I was called a 'college boy' and 'chocolate boy' hero. It was destroying me as an actor. By repeating yourself you can become a superstar, but I want to be a good actor first, like Charlie Chaplin, Jack Nicholson and dad, Pankaj Kapoor."

He admits that in his 11-yearcareer, he's acted in some good and some bad films, prompted by decisions to conform to role models set by earlier stars rather than pure conviction: "Jab We Met and Kaminey helped me break out of the claustrophobic room. Then, I lost my rhythm again, till Haider came along."

At the time, Vishal Bhardwaj was unsure if they'd even get funding for this film. Shahid went along, swept by the collective passion. "Haider both depleted and enriched me as an actor. Today, I'm calmer, knowing that I'm capable of much more. I want to hold on to the purity and honesty. I'll listen to my heart and not my head," he says.

Last Sunday, he picked up Filmfare's black lady for his performance in Haider, his seventh award this year. And while he's enjoying the accolades, it was a relief to be told by the family at dinner that after a long time he was looking himself again. Prod him on Kaminey 2 and he sighs, "I don't think Vishal wants to make it now. Every time we meet, he narrates a new story. After Kaminey, we developed a great director-actor equation, after Haider, Vishal's become family. I listen to him the way I listen to dad. I wish he'd advise me on every film but he's busy."

So instead, he's got himself a new team, which includes producer Madhu Mantena, to sound him out. "Actors live in a closed world, we have a limited vision and shouldn't take decisions alone. It's wiser to talk less and listen to others more," he says for his brave new choices.

One of the out-of-the-box decisions was to sign Udta Punjab, helmed by Vishal's onetime assistant who his father had predicted during Maqbool would go far. Last year, Abhishek Chaubey was recommended to him strongly by the team at Phantom Films. "Abhishek wasn't looking to cast any stars but after seeing the Haider promos, they probably thought I might agree to do Udta Punjab though I was apologetically told it was nothing like anything I'd done before. That was a lure. As soon as I heard the narration, I told Abhishek that he wasn't going to anyone else and got the biggest hug from Anurag Kashyap," Shahid reminisces.

The film reunites him with former girlfriend Kareena Kapoor and could leave them open to awkward questions even if they don't have any scenes together. "What are the questions I haven't answered already? As an actor you have to find 20 different ways of answering the same questions," he says exasperatedly. "In fact, I was the first to suggest that Kareena was perfect for this role. I respect her as an actress. I'm happy she is living a good life. So am I."

Yes, it's obvious he's enjoying his bachelorhood. He's been spotted clubbing recently and is seen as the new Casanova in town. "After Shandaar, I'm on a three-month break and went out maybe four times in a fortnight. That was enough to make me a Casanova. Now, if a friend wants to catch a movie, I insist she call five others so we don't attract any fresh rumors," he grouses.

Yes, there's been talk about his Shandaar co-star, Alia Bhatt. "Alia is the most talented person I've met in my life. She's quickly become a good friend despite being much younger than me. I hope people understand and respect this and not try to misconstrue it," he says, admitting that he was somewhat unsure and insecure during the Shaandar shoot. "It's difficult when you jump genres. I kept asking Vikas and Alia if I was okay," he says.

Must be good to get his hair back after Haider's close shave? "Yes, though the first shower on my bald scalp felt so liberating," he smiles. "Now, I'm hoping to wear my hair long in the Magadheera remake which starts later this year. I've wanted to ride a horse with a sword in my hand and later this year I will."