Mumai, Sept 29: Rahul Bose takes a deep breath. "I haven't had sex for many years," he says... and then breaks into a crafty grin. The provocation for this confession is his character in Mumbai Matinee: a 32-year-old advertising executive who is a virgin.
Come to think of it, Rahul too is a former ad-man in his 30s. So where does the resemblance end? "Trick question," laughs the actor, "I have gone through this angst. There have been the usual failures, aborted missions... and then, at one point of time, God took pity on me and gave me the break! Since then, it's been downhill!"



Jokes apart, Rahul is having the time of his life. He's all set to fly to Milan next week to attend Namaste India, a week-long festival of the subcontinent's art, cuisine, cinema, culture, jewellery and fashion, organised by the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Femina.


"There are eight Indian films being screened at the festival," points out Rahul, "and four of them —- Mr and Mrs Iyer, Bombay Boys, Everybody Says I'm Fine and Split Wide Open -— star me. A really freaky thing is happening."
If that is keeping his ego in good spirits, Rahul is also basking in the successes of Mr and Mrs Iyer and Jhankaar Beats. "There are offers galore," he admits, "Until yesterday, there have been 33 offers and I have said no to 31 of them and that includes one typical Bollywood blockbuster. I like to do what makes me happy. So, I go by the role, director or script and sometimes just on the personal liking for a person."



Money isn't a big turn-on either. "The fact is, I don't get offered obscene amounts of money," he reveals, "That Bollywood biggie might have got me moolah, but I didn't like the script so much."


While there are a handful of films, such as The Whisperers and Chameli, up his sleeve, Rahul is looking forward to something entirely non-filmi. "I want to go to England and play rugby in December," he muses, "I just hope I make it to the team." Hope springs eternal? Yes Bose!