All’s well between Shah Rukh Khan and me: Arjun Rampal

He’s been through his share of lows in Bollywood, but all that’s history for actor Arjun Rampal, who’s now busy enjoying only the highs, on screen and off it. “I don’t live in the past or brood over what happened. I only believe in the present,” says the actor, who’s suddenly catapulted in the race to the top with hit films like Rock On, Rajneeti, and Houseful.

Quite like the proverbial dark horse? “I have evolved as an actor for sure, but it also took filmmakers like Prakash Jha to spot the potential and keep the faith that I could deliver,” he says. But while on one hand his stocks have risen at the box-office, so have rumours surrounding him. Detractors have been talking about his apparent rift with good friend Shah Rukh Khan with whom he’s incidentally working in Ra.One — he’s once again playing the baddie opposite SRK after Om Shanti Om. “It’s pure gossip!” says Arjun rubbishing all the rumours.

“Ever wonder why there’s no source to such gossip? That’s because such rumours have no truth. All’s well between Shah Rukh and me,” he insists.As for him not joining his good friend for Don 2, even though he played an important part in Don, Arjun says, “We are friends and also professionals, and the two roles are not interchangeable.”Right now, it’s his role as a producer that Arjun’s keen on taking up again. “I’m beginning work on that next year in June,” he informs. And is it likely that ‘good friend’ Scarlett Johansson — with whom he bonded at an international event  — might make a special appearance in it. “If there’s a role that’ll require her, then yes, sure, we’ll approach her.  She’s very curious about Bollywood too,” he smiles.