Abhijeet Sawant set for image change with film debut

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Indian Idol winner Abhijeet Sawant says he is set to change his 'romantic' image with his acting debut in "Lottery".

"The movie is not at all a romantic flick. It is in total contradiction with what audiences must be expecting from me. It is basically a thriller," Abhijeet told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

In the film, Sawant plays an accountant working in a fashion magazine, who gets trapped in a murder case.

The singer-turned-actor, whose voice was widely appreciated in the film "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" and the album "Junoon", has been cast opposite television actor Rucha Gujarati and newcomer Manisha Kelkar in the film.

However, "Lottery" was not his first film offer. Abhijeet said he was flooded with movie offers immediately after he won the first season of talent hunt show "Indian Idol", but he turned them down.

"I thought I lacked the confidence to act at that time," he said.

So what made him sign "Lottery"?

"I met director Hemant Prabhu a year ago and he told me about the role. I was convinced since I felt the role was very close to my real self and it suited my nature.

"Initially, I thought it would be difficult to act, but gradually I grew as an actor and the outcome was surprising for all," he said.

Apart from "Lottery", he has a couple of other acting offers, but he hasn't finalised anything as yet.

Though he has taken his first steps into Bollywood, singing remains a passion for him.

He is currently a participant on STAR Plus' reality music show "Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar", where the winners and runners-up of previously held talent hunts across channels compete with one another.

But what made him want to compete with his colleagues again?

"I came to 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar' because it appeared as a challenge to me to compete with all of them once again ... And I also thought it would be a treat for the viewers," he quipped.

Abhijeet's upcoming projects as a singer include "Care of Footpath" and "Mumbai.com".

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