After a lukewarm year, the actor is hoping to score again with the film on match fixing, writes Joginder Tuteja

How different is Jannat from the films you have done earlier?
The character I play has similar whacky and mischievous shades. How my character changes from being a street gambler to a man who operates at an international platform is interesting. It is an exciting quest for ‘jannat’ as he gets sucked deeper into the world of cricket and betting.

Jannat apparently deals with match fixing, betting, the Bob Woolmer episode and references to Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja.
References to the elements that you mention are there in the film though we are not naming any people. Jannat is not a docu-drama where we start showing the events the way they happened. We are not picking up stars and icons and making their life public. We are here to tell a tale that has fictional elements and commercial prospects in mind.

Would Jannat be yet another shock-fest from the house of the Bhatts?
Oh, absolutely, you can expect shock value, which has relevance. In the months gone by, sports has been glorified in Bollywood cinema. Chak De India is one example. Here the world of cricket and what happens behind-the-scenes will be the focal point of the movie. Thankfully, the post World Cup slump period is over and cricket is  riding high with India’s win over Australia.

What part does a leading lady have to play?
In building the character graph of the protagonist, it is essential to showcase the relationships he has shared in his life. In the film too, newcomer Sonal Chauhan plays an important role in the protagonist’s journey and in his quest for jannat. She has done a very good job in the film.

How was it working with debutant director Kunal Deshmukh?
This may be Kunal’s first film as an independent director but he is not a novice. He has assisted Mohit Suri. He is a diehard cricket fan. There was a certain look he wanted to give to the film and he has accomplished that. He has got a love story in the film, which has cricket as its wallpaper.