Arjun Rampal to start a restaurant

MOST people would've been driven crazy if they were shuttling between work, moving into a new house in Mumbai and opening a restaurant in Delhi. But the dishy Arjun Rampal's very busy and happening life elicits a wide grin. "This is indeed one of the best phases of my life. Everything seems perfect - we moved into our new house, a penthouse in Bandra, early this week. We're both decorating our house the way we want and at the pace we enjoy," he beams. Lap - the restaurant he is opening in Delhi's posh neighbourhood of Malcha Marg in collaboration with restaurateur A. D. Singh - offers him more reasons to beam about. The restaurant is being designed by Sandeep Khosla of the famed Abu-Sandeep duo. "I've been shuttling between the two cities, to oversee the work for the restaurant. It's a project close to my heart since I'm quite a foodie." While in Mumbai, he frequents Singh's Olive, China House at Grand Hyatt and Aurus in Juhu. The 36-year-old, however, chose Delhi for this pet project because that's where he spent his early years. "I know a lot of people there and, besides, I found a lovely space in the city, which is growing in terms of hospitality." The restaurant, likely to open its doors in August, aims to create a benchmark in world cuisine while keeping the ambience casual and easy. "The ambience of an eatery plays a key role and is almost as important as the food one serves as it sets the pace of the evening and the meal for the guest," he smiles his Buddha-like smile. While most will insist that his divine smile is his USP, it's the devilishly gorgeous actor's intense character, Joe Mascarenhas, in Farhan Akhtar's Rock On!! that won him a slew of awards this year. And Rampal hopes that with forthcoming films, like Prakash Jha's Rajneeti, where he plays a character with political undertones, and Sajid Khan's Housefull, which will see him in a "comic role like never before", he will continue his run at the awards. This model-turned-actor's chiselled looks recently also brought him an international commercial for Schweppes opposite Hollywood diva Nicole Kidman, shot in Udaipur's Lake Palace. The offer - his first international commercial - did come as a surprise and Rampal's stroke of luck continues as the ad, uploaded on youtube.com, has already had 400 million hits. "It's phenomenal and flattering," he exclaims. "I'm really content with the way my life is shaping up - it's well-rounded and balanced. I hope I can stay focussed on my career and not disappoint anyone. Though my job is like a roller-coaster ride, I think the ups and downs have been worth it." Screen India