New Delhi: Known for his penchant for offbeat films, actor Rahul Bose is an exceptional actor but has not been utilised to his potential, feels director Samar Khan.

Rahul Bose is a great actor. It is just that he has not been used to his potential and is still an underexposed actor. I have been watching him from his very first film 'English August' and his selection of movies till today is stupendous," says the director of 'Shaurya' in which Rahul plays the lead role.

Samar Khan, whose first film 'Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye' bombed miserably at the box office, is getting good reviews for his second directorial venture 'Shaurya', a story set against the army backdrop.

"Shaurya is a story of finding courage within oneself and standing by one's beliefs. In the film Rahul plays a army lawyer who defends an accused charged for killing his senior colleague. Initially, Rahul was apprehensive to work with a new director but when I explained the importance of his character, he finally said yes to the role," adds Khan.

Bose, who was appreciated for his power-packed performances in movies like 'English August', 'Split Wide Open', and 'Mr And Mrs Iyer', has also done commercial films such as 'Jhankaar Beats',  'Thakshak' and 'Chameli'.            .

When asked about why he selected Rahul as he is mostly associated with offbeat films, he says, "Who said this? I think he has done every kind of role with equal ease.

'Pyar ke Side effects' and 'Jhankar Beats' were not unusual films. He has shown the world that apart from serious roles, he can also do comedy and romance."

Minnisha Lamba, who is playing the lady love of Rahul in the film, is quite upbeat about her role and the on-screen chemistry with Rahul Bose. "It was great to work with Rahul. I think he is one of the best actors we have in India. I am playing the role of a Journalist who helps Rahul to fight injustice. I am confident that people will appreciate this movie."

Lamba who came to limelight with the critically acclaimed film 'Yahaan' with Jimmy Shergill, however, declines to compare the films.

"The subject of 'Yahaan' was completely different from 'Shaurya' but there is only one similarity that both are well-made movies. Both Jimmy and Rahul are immensely talented actors and it is not right to compare them," says the actress.

But, the actor himself does not think that he is par excellence.

"I am just 'another' actor. My job is to give my best on the silver screen. It is upto the audience to judge whether I am good or bad," says Rahul Bose.

On the common perception that he is only interested in serious cinema, he says, "I don't want to limit myself to a particular genre. Some people say that I am only interested in art films but that is not right. I think I am improving with every film. 'Takshaq', 'Pyar Ke Side Effects', 'Jhankar Beats' were not art cinema and people liked it."

When asked about his Hollywood dreams, he says, "I had done many English movies in the past and also got awards for them. But I am not interested in Hollywood and its directors and for me Indian directors like Budhdhdev Das Gupta, Dev Benegal, Rituparno Ghosh, Sudhir Mishra are more interesting lot to work with."