New Delhi, Aug 19: Did somebody whisper that India's longest surviving male sex symbol-we have so few that you can't miss the count-will be turning 40 in three years? It's hard to digest, when one remembers he was part of our girlie conversation when I was a teen. But looking at Milind Soman now it doesn't really matter. He seems to have blown the years away. Starting with a successful career as a model, the former national level swimmer created a controversy with the Tuffs Python ad and some sad sack acting for a forgettable television sitcom, A Mouthful of Sky.
The media couldn't keep away from his cleft chin, so he became a regular fixture on the people's page, even though his career wasn't the hottest thing to happen every summer. Along the way, his girlfriend Madhu Sapre and he split. She got married. He remained defiantly single and still very eligible, resurfacing for national female consumption via Alisha Chinai's Made in India video. If more Indian men looked like him, we'd be a nation of heavenly bodies, but that's a different story.

He also did some turns in more commercials and sitcoms, plus two movies. Something must have stuck, because now the guy who reports he never had a single girl tie a rakhi on him when he was in school has turned movie producer. We caught up with him when he was in town to promote his new movie, Rules-Pyar Ka Superhit Formula.
He finickily swapped rooms so his photoshoot would have a different backdrop. "Yeah now I can talk," he laughed. Picked up a choc and started to munch."I can't resist chocolates" he says, a twinkle in his eyes. I think I am going to have a fit when he tells me he never goes to the gym or on diet. Naturally blessed with a good metabolic system. You know the type. Meet them around junkfood stores pigging on pastries and looking thin as rakes. "I used to be involved in sports once, but not any longer. Now I know what my body responds to. That's how I govern it. I do go for an occasional jog though," reveals producer Soman. In the past he co-produced Margarita for the dit box. He also made an impression on some kid's souls with a role as Captain Vyom.



"I didn't do much tv because I dislike working on one project for a long period" says Soman who describes himself as "shy and introvert." Yeah sure.



His first film was Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, which he signed in 1989. It was never completed. Says he wasn't interested in films as a career, then he fitted in roles like Agnivarsha. "I keep reinventing myself. I've experimented with different looks, changed my hairstyle. All this keeps me going." He hasn't said total tata to the ramp either. Recently he did a show for Khadi. As he puts it, "I enjoy modelling and don't have hang-ups because I've an acting career."



He seems chilled out where his maiden home production is concerned. Shares, "I don't think about things once they are done. Besides I am never affected personally by success or failure of a film. I had a good time doing Surya and Rules...The rest is upto the audience." Models are doing well in films. Arjun Rampal is paid 80 lakhs for a movie. Then there is Rahul Dev and Milind who enjoyed his work with Rules which had a fresh line-up of technicians. Parvati Balagopalan is a new director.The cast, cameraperson, scriptwriter and art director are also new names.



Rules is the story of a supermodel who wants to leave the glam world and do something else with himself. Milind who describes himself as "shy and introvert," says the character is no alter-ego. "I'm exactly the opposite. I haven't a clue what I want out of life. I think of something and end up doing something else." His secret dream (no longer a secret) is to climb Everest someday. "I'm a loner and like my solitude, so I think that would be a fabulous experience." Hope its not too cold when he gets to the top.