Trupti N paces around the room nervously and it's only when we ask her to calm down that she settles on the sofa. “I've never met an actor in my whole life.“ That she is minutes away from meeting her favourite actor Vidyut Jammwal has only added to the excitement. The 26-year-old financial counsellor has travelled from New Panvel to Andheri to meet the hero, who first caught her eye with his looks, physique and acting in movies such as Commando and Force.

A couple of minutes later, Jammwal walks in and immediately puts her at ease by enquiring about her family and work. “Are they as beautiful as you?“ he asks, making her blush. But Trupti grabs her chance to prod him and asks how he reacts to tags such as 'sexiest man' and 'hottest body' that have been bestowed upon him. “I enjoy it. I'm proud of all that I've achieved,“ he smiles and adds, “See, it's like any other profession. If somebody tells you you're good at something, you feel good about it.“

The conversation immediately veers towards the 'action hero' image he currently enjoys thanks to his action-packed roles in movies like Bullett Raja. Trupti asks him what he likes playing the best - the hero or the anti-hero. “Both are good,“ he answers diplomatically, “But I like roles with grey shades, you can do a lot more there. In Indian movies, a hero is supposed to behave in a certain way but in Hollywood, you see actors like Brad Pitt doing negative roles. And I think girls like bad boys, na?“ He insists that although action-based roles are his favourite, he is capable of much more. “My next film Yaara is a romantic drama, after which I have Commando 2 and Milan Luthria's Baadshaho with Ajay Devgn,“ he tells her. It's the script that excites him, he says. “Have you seen Masaan?“ he says and she shakes her head. “Watch that film when you get the time. The script is so powerful. Both my mother and my 11-year-old niece liked it. So there are such films being made in India and I would love to be a part of that kind of cinema,“ he adds.

Trupti knows that Vidyut is a trained martial arts artiste, having learnt Kalaripayattu since the age of three. “But what happens when you are out shooting and there are no gyms or exercise equipment?“ she asks. “Well, I'm not into hardcore weightlifting. I'm more of a pushups kind of guy, so I manage,“ he says. Trupti tells him that she has also read somewhere that he practises anti-gravity yoga and suspension and wants to know more about it. “It's a combination of exercises you do where you go against gravity and balance your weight. You need to have a strong core for that,“ he says. The actor tells her that she looks quite fit herself, and was curious to learn about her exercise regimen. “My daily commute by train to and from work compensates for the lack of a workout, I guess,“ she smiles. Vidyut nods his head in admiration as she tells him that she works 12 hours a day. “That's a lot of work,“ he says.

So what else are you enthusiastic about, apart from fitness and movies, she asks. “I keep myself busy,“ he says “I have many friends who are not a part of the film industry and I like hanging out with them. I have a team of stunt boys, some who come from Dharavi, some from Panvel. I like spending time with them as I get to learn a lot.“ Does he cook, she asks. “No, and I'm not a foodie either,“ he replies. So he wouldn't step out of his car to buy a vada pav from the street like a common man? Trupti persists. “Yes, I would but I'm not fond of vada pav. What I really like are the dosas that you get outside Mithibai College. That guy puts a lot of butter in them!“ he laughs.

The conversation draws to an end when Trupti enquires about his love life. “When are you getting married?“ she asks coyly. “I don't know. I don't think I can settle for an arranged marriage, because I would want to know that person well before getting married to her. What are your plans?“ he asks, turning the tables on her rather expertly. Her parents are on the lookout for a boy for her, she confides. “Okay, I promise you, if you get married in the next two years, I'll attend your wedding,“ he says, shaking her hand. Trupti is left ecstatic. “Pakka? Even if it's in Navi Mumbai?“ she asks and he nods. “Even if it's in Bhopal!“