'Agent Vinod' was never a dream project: Saif Ali Khan

Actor Saif Ali Khan, whose debut home production Agent Vinod failed to create magic at the Box Office, says he never considered the film as his dream project.

The 41-year-old star was riding high on his solo project before it's release, which also starred real-life girlfriend Kareena Kapoor.

"To be honest I didn't really look at Agent Vinod as a dream or anything. It was a film which came with a lot of intellectual ideas. I wanted to bring a new facet of the actor in me which has played quite a few comic and romantic characters in the past.

"The idea was to play a hero of a different kind and produce a quality product. That's the kind of offering I wanted to come with," Saif told PTI.

The actor, who has signed three films - Race 2, Cocktail and Judwaa 2, feels this is an exciting period in his career as he has many interesting projects in his hands.

"These are exciting times and there are quite a few interesting films that I would be kick-starting soon. Race 2 is turning out well and with Abbas-Mustan at the helm of affairs, it is going to be a stylish and fun affair.

"Then there is Judwaa 2 which is going to be quite a challenge as it gets me into an altogether different zone when compared to some of the films that I have done in the recent past. However, after letting my hair down in Pungi, I am confident that the audience will accept a different side of me," Saif said.

Judwaa 2 is a sequel to the Salman Khan-starrer 1997 film.

Saif, who has been in the industry for more than two decades, has given hits like Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Parineeta and Omkara.

There were reports that Saif was upset with Deepika Padukone after she backed out from their upcoming project Race 2, a sequel to the 2008 release of the same name.

Addressing the rumours, Saif said, "It's amusing when such things are being written and spoken about. To begin with, Deepika and I were never fighting that we had to make up. As for the controversy surrounding Race 2 then well, if she doesn't or can't do a film then she must have her own reasons.

"I can't take things personally. She is a very nice girl and was kind enough to explain to me her point of view. That was good enough," he said.

The reports also suggested the duo were back being friends after they were pictured together in the Capital while shooting for Homi Adajania's rom-com Cocktail.

"Now that really beats up. The pictures that made it to the media were from a shot that we had given for Cocktail. In fact there was another girl in the frame as well. Things can really get funny when interpreted as per someone's own will," he added.

Saif and Deepika have previously starred in Love Aaj Kal and Aarakshan.

The actor says his other films in the pipeline include an adaptation of a French comic book which may have director Anurag Basu calling the shots and a film where he would be playing a Bhopali detective.