'Playing the bad guy was fun'

Which celebrity drew the most attention from the crowd at the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge?

A) Monica Belluci

B) Karishma Kapoor

C) Jas Arora

D) Anil Kapoor

If you answered anything but Anil Kapoor, you would have been better off phoning a friend. It's a sign of Slumdog Millionaire's fairytale ride to the top that the Bollywood star outshone the remote Belluci at one of the city's most exclusive social events this past weekend.

A year ago, most guests - those who aren't fans of Bollywood's song and dance numbers - would have struggled to even identify the actor. But what a difference a year makes.

Catching up with the charismatic star at the luxurious Desert Palm Hotel, Kapoor should have a bank of stories to tell. From hanging out with Dustin Hoffman at the Oscars, to talks with the producers of the hit TV show 24, Kapoor is emerging as one of India's hottest exports alongside his Slumdog co-star Freida Pinto.

But when asked, he's not exactly willing to spill the dirt on his recent foray into La-La Land.

Looking to the future

"That's in the past and I am looking to the future now," he says matter-of-factly of his Oscar experience, preening his manicured reflection in the glassed boxes housing Cartier's pricey watches. Pushed a little further, he divulges that he rubbed shoulders with Sir Anthony Hopkins and Clint Eastwood on the after-party circuit.

What did they say about Slumdog Millionaire? "They loved it, of course. The support was so overwhelming. It was gigantic."

While A-listers gush with praise about the rags to riches tale, the same can't be said of all the film's viewers. Indian audiences were divided about the portrayal of Mumbai's impoverished, with critics suggesting the film revelled in the idea of 'slum chic'.

Kapoor is philosophical when asked about the backlash in his homeland. "You know, that was coming from a very, very minority section. It's a democratic country and everyone's got a right to say what they want to say and it makes any form of art much more exciting.

"If everyone loved it, maybe there wouldn't have been the same buzz."

Lot of choice

The 49-year-old, who still cuts a slim figure in skinny jeans and fitted waistcoat, is now looking to capitalise on his recent success, most notably with 24, the action-packed TV show that revived the career of Kiefer Sutherland.

The actor is coy when asked about the new role. "My agents are under negotiations, so I am not ready to speak. I am heading to LA this week so we will wait and see.

"At the moment there's a lot of opportunities and I don't want to rush into anything. I have a lot of choice now, for which I am very grateful."

Kapoor - who made his name in Bollywood playing the archetypal hero - is tipped to play a counter-terrorist cop who teams up with Sutherland's Jack Bauer.

But the actor would not knock back the opportunity to take on another villainous role to rival his performance as the flawed Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host Prem Kumar. "Playing the bad guy was great, great fun.

"As an actor you can wait your whole career to play a character like this."