Sammir Dattani, who turns 25 in January, is growing up fast. “This industry forces you to. While I was part of my family business I was sheltered from real life. I was just this innocent Malabar Hill kid with no worries. When I announced my decision to be an actor my father looked at me as if I had lost it. Now I’ve no time for anything…not even for love,” says Sammir who’s been in a couple of serious relationships. “But now, I’m scared of commitment. In the last six months I’ve been on four outdoor schedules for films in three languages. Where do I have the time for a girlfriend?”

Sammir who played a chocolate-faced hero in his first four films has really grown up. “Three of my films have forced me to look at life in a more serious light. In Nisha Chainani’s Mumbai Marathon I play a long-distance runner who loses his leg to cancer. The special effects and prosthetics in the film are so real, even I got scared watching myself without a leg. Then I’m in almost every frame of Mani Shankar’s Mukhbiir. I play this government agent who infiltrates hardcore terrorist outfits. It’s so realistic that my character undergoes a circumcision to be 100 per cent Foolproof in his new avataar.”

During the shooting of the circumcision sequence Sammir’s costars Suniel Shetty and Sushant Singh and his director Mani constantly kept pulling his leg. “I can’t repeat some of their jokes. But, yes, they had to do with enhanced pleasure,” laughs Sammir. “Mukhbiir has helped me to grow as a person. It exposed me to a side of life that I didn’t know existed. So what if I haven’t worked with Mani Ratnam as yet. One day I will. For now I’m happy to have got this opportunity with the other Mani. His technical knowledge makes the film appear realistic and yet spectacular.”

And now Sammir’s third film, Life Mein Kabhi Kabhi, a tale of love life, happiness, sorrow and male bonding has Sammir charged like never before. “I’ve been a fan of Vikram Bhatt’s cinema since Ghulam. When he offered me this film I never knew it would be such a powerful role, since two of his favourite actors Dino Morea and Aftab Shivdasani were already in the project. But mine is a role to die for. I go through so many stages of change, from ruthless ambition to guilt and atonement. I guess I’m just lucky to be doing author-backed roles like Mukhbiir and Life Mein Kabhi Kabhi so early in my career.”

Interestingly, Vikram Bhatt’s film has Sammir sharing a relationship with an older woman. “I’m really not supposed to talk about it. But yes, older women have always fascinated me. I’d love to date one. I was over the moon when a Hyderabad-based producer offered me a remake of Summer Of 42.”

The unusual love story is supposed to star Rekha, Shabana or Dimple opposite Sammir. “And that’s a thought I can build on endlessly,” chuckles the young actor.