I’m not playing an underwear model in 'Agent Vinod': Saif Ali Khan

Actor Saif Ali Khan is gradually winning his battle with the stick, and has his cardiologist’s approval of it too. Soon the heart scare (on February 18, 2007) for which the actor was rushed to the ICU of Lilavati Hospital would be a thing of the past. He was diagnosed as having myocardial infarction, a condition brought on by the lack of blood supply to the heart.

Remind the actor about it, and he says, “Smoking increases the risk of heart conditions. Since then I have steadily worked towards giving it up. I have almost given up smoking.”

He says that even his cardiologist, whom he met recently, is impressed with the remarkable improvement he has made over the years. “My doctor says that I have the lungs of a non-smoker and the heart of an athlete. I do have a cigarette once-in-a-blue-moon, but it’s so rare that my doctor never got a hint of it,” quips Khan.

Was it girlfriend Kareena (Kapoor), who helped him kick the butt? “Kareena was not around when the incident took place. I gave up smoking for the fear of God. The incident made me realize that if I didn’t give up, I would die,” he adds.

There’s been much talks of him buffing up for the desi Bond flick, and acquiring a six-pack abs? “Agent Vinod is not an underwear model that he has to have flat and sexy six-pack. I’m playing a RAW agent in the film. We have tried to give it a feel of a true spy thriller like a Bond meets Bourne Identity. I don’t think I would like to compare it to the Bond franchise,” he says.

So, what’s next for Khan?  What about marriage? “Marriage is on our minds. We (he and Kareena) are talking about it too. But right now nothing is more important than my film and may be after that we’ll be able to re-focus on it again,” he trails off.