'Why would I want to get married in the same month as my birthday?' Marriage to Karisma Kapoor is not on Abhishek Bachchan's mind now. His career is

Subhash K Jha

Of late, rumours about Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor tying the knot on February 14 have been making fervent rounds in the press.

Abhishek, who flew to Chandigarh via Delhi to shoot a portion of J P Dutta's war epic LoC, is neither amused not shaken by these rumours. "I have been hearing about my own marriage from various sources. There is certainly no marriage February 14. Why would I want to get married in the same month as my birthday? I don't want people to give me birthday and marriage anniversary gifts for all time to come," Abhishek jokes.

The airbase at Chandigarh bustles with activity. A melodious Anu Maliik tune plays in the background as JP hurriedly cans his shots. Esha Deol, who plays the romantic lead opposite Abhishek, is expected any time now. Abhishek's pal and sister-in-law-to-be Kareena Kapoor is also in Chandigarh shooting for another portion of the film. She is expected to fly out in a day.

For Abhishek, it will be a while before he sees Mumbai again. After Chandigarh, he is off to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, to work on a semi-experimental film with Lara Dutta. "Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost is being produced by my friend Vicky Nihalani (producer Pehlaj Nihalani's son), and directed by Apoorva Lakhia, who assisted in Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan. It [the film] will be great fun. It is a satire on the electrification of a village and how it changes lives. If I tell you more, I would have to kill you to keep it a secret. The situations in the plot are very different from what audiences have been seeing. This is what we should be doing in all our films. We finish January 31 in Jaisalmer."

Abhishek will fly back to Mumbai for a brief spell of Sooraj Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon.

From the off-mainstream satire Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost, to his first hardcore actioner Zameen (both with debutant directors), to the war epic LoC, to the soft-and-tender Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, you will see a lot of Abhishek in 2003.