Sushant Singh Rajput doesn't like being called a star just yet. He says he would prefer being called an actor anyday. He's casual, candid and quite witty. In between bouts of laughter, Sushant discusses his love for films, people's perceptions about him and turning 30.

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You’ve turned 30. Any change you would like to bring in more?Well, there are quite a few things that I would like to change, but not because I am hitting a certain number age-wise, but maybe because I have become wiser and less stupid. For me, to become successful, famous or rich in order to prove a point to everyone that, 'Hey, look at me I am so good’ was a great driving force, say seven to ten years back. Not anymore. It doesn't mean that I am no more excited about my work, but I have realised that the experience that you get in the process and what you become because of it, is what matters.

Any regrets?I regret not playing enough, not spending time with my loved ones, not learning to play the guitar and not trying tuxedos enough till now. I am gonna go for them now (smiles).

How do you usually celebrate your birthday?Oh, I generally work during the day and party with a handful of friends in the evening till either all of us pass out or end up in washrooms throwing up not knowing why we started the celebrations in the first place.

Any birthday plans this year?Well, quite the same way but this year, I think Ankita is secretly planning a cute surprise party for me. Too bad she has been using my credit card and I got to know!

What's the best birthday gift you've received?A Breitling watch last year. From a secret admirer. I just wish she remembers my birthday this time too. Sweetheart, are you listening? (laughs)

One birthday gift you want to gift yourself this year.I want to gift myself a Rolls Royce this year. But too bad, I can't!

Does public perception about you matter at all?There are only three things in the world. Atoms, spaces between atoms and opinions. They are just opinions. They need not be right or wrong opinions. I am not concerned at all. See, there are two things. One: if all the movies that I do, get appreciated, I get very excited. All the hard work pays off. Number one payback is me being satisfied by what I did in the film. Second is the appreciation from the audience. That’s an added thing. Someone goes to the theatre, invests some Rs200-300 on my film and is happy. Third, is now the next one I do, I will have the power to choose my film and also get paid more. If the second and third don’t happen, it doesn’t mean that I will be really affected. The first thing is very important. There’s no purpose or agenda, but it’s convenient for me and acting is something that gets me excited. There’s nothing else to it because it’s not like I have to be the best actor here someday.

What if you lose everything you achieved someday?Nothing. I can do many other things to support the way I live, but it will be boring. This is exciting and that’s it. There’s nothing else to it and I don’t have to prove a point to anybody. If nothing happens, I will make my own film and I will watch it. I won’t put it somewhere where everybody will not get to see it and I will still be happy.

So you mean no one's opinions matter to you then?A lot of them do, which is why I have stopped listening to them. It doesn’t mean that people sitting in front of me are telling me things and I don’t listen. I don’t meet them only (Laughs). I don’t go on these spicy channels and websites anymore. I am in the happiest state right now. I am doing the films that I want to do. I have a very loving family, Ankita and big dreams, but I am not obsessed about my future.

Do you plan your life or are you a 'living in the moment' person?Initially, when I lost my mom and everyone was writing me off, I was trying to prove a point to everyone. But when big things started happening. I became a topper and then I started taking big decisions in my life. Everything has happened so quickly. I had no money, I had dropped out of college, I was supposed to go to Stanford and I came to... Versova! (laughs) I was then living with six people in a one-room kitchen, making my own food, talking about the monthly contribution, waiting for the auto-rickshaw in the rain to suddenly becoming famous, writing autographs, buying two luxury cars on the same day and buying this bike which is insanely, stupidly expensive. 

Hasn't stardom ever hit you?Initially, yes. I was taking myself very seriously. I was looking at the mirror at least 20 times a day! (Laughs) That was just for about a few days. I thought after all this, it would be something else. Nothing happened. I don't know how much money I have in my bank account right now. Not that I have a lot but it's that much that I don't need to think about money right now. Money was always a very important thing in my life at that point. It was a strong differentiator between taking big decisions. So, now, when I don't have to think about money regarding every choice I make, for me that's like a quantum jump. But nothing changed in my head. 

You have changed a lot as a person in the last one year…I think I have become more talkative now. I was a lot more reserved a year back. I used to think a lot more and I don’t do that much now. I have realised that thinking is such a waste of time. I am much more relaxed. I am extremely honest now and I just react to what people ask me.

Would you do a mindless masala film?It has to make some sense to me. Is there a story to tell? If it’s there, is my director sure of it or is he just assembling things to make money? If he’s doing that, he’s right in his place. I also want to earn money, become more famous. I love it. I am not deliberately not doing a `100-200 crore film. If it happens, great. I will party all night!

Does it ever hurt that despite giving some great performances, your contemporaries are tagged as commercial ‘stars’?You think about it sometimes. But at the same time, when things are right normally or are in the right places and you know exactly why you are doing what you are doing, then it’s just a matter of time. That’s why we generally make quick opinions.

Would you like to work with a superstar in an ensemble film ever?I worked with Aamir Khan in PK, although I didn't have any scenes with him. So why not? I definitely can. I am not against the idea of working with a bigger star. They should be comfortable working with me. 

No fear of being overshadowed?I have been overshadowed for the first 25 years of my life when I was nobody to the world. But I was a superstar in my head! (Laughs)