People thought I was gay: Sajid

Sajid Khan doesn't mince words. So when we put him in the dock, no topic was taboo. . From his sex life to his current relationship status, Sajid was at his candid best.

Recently there has been a buzz about his closeness to his Housefull 2 co-star Jacqueline Fernandez. Sajid is single-handedly breathing life into her flagging career – first by giving her a saucy item number Janabe Ali (Housefull) and now casting her in the sequel. Here the director talks about his leading lady, love life and being arrogant. Excerpts from the interview...

Are you seeing Jacqueline?
I'm not seeing Jackie. I'm extremely fond of her and I love her as I love all my actors. They are all very special to me. She is a wonderful person and I adore her. The day I shot Janabe Ali for Housefull, I told her that I would cast her in the sequel and I have kept my word. She is a thorough professional and gives in her best for her work. I like that quality. There is nothing to read between the lines but I'm glad that I'm being linked to a girl and not a guy named Jack.

Are you saying this because of the buzz about you being gay?
Precisely. I came to know a year back that some people thought I was gay. It did not really affect me but I came to know what people who don't know me think about me. But I have not gone out and tried to change people's perception. I have never done things to win brownie points in my life. People always see through who you are and one can never really put up and act. So, I would always come clean than try to be smart.

Why cast Akshay Kumar in Housefull 2? Perception is that his comedies are not working anymore.
I believe that actors are never flops. It is the project that is. So, never write off an actor. One hit and things turn for the better. I have given Akshay his career's highest grossing film (Heyy Babyy) and I have a hundred percent record with him. I believe in him and I have also got a project that will be a blockbuster. I also know that the film I will do next will also be a blockbuster.

Aren't you talking like God in an industry that has no formula for success?
But I know what will work and what won't. The trick is to connect with the audiences and I'm making films that do or else they would not have gone and seen them. I want to entertain and people want to be entertained. It is a simple give and take formula which one needs to work on.

But your films are dubbed as brainless films by critics.
I have never made films for the critics and I don't care what they think of my film. I make paisa vasool films for audiences and that's what I want to do all my life. For me box office is the king and content rules supreme.

You know people have labelled you as an arrogant man...
And people who get to know me, they often tell me that they never expected me to be the person that I really am. I don't go to charities where the media has been invited. I go to those where there is no spotlight. I'm a no show-shaa guy who likes to work and has the passion for cinema. I like to be with my circle of friends and only do things that I want to do. How's this bad?