Though he has been slotted as a lover boy, R. Madhavan begs to differ and says he has done only two such films.

"I haven't been bogged down by any image. People do think of me as a lover boy. But I have done only two lover boy films so far. My first Tamil film 'Alai Payuthe' and my first Hindi film 'Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein'. And now I'm into a genre I haven't done before, a thriller. I want 'Guru' to be massive hit," Madhavan told IANS.

Apart from changing his on screen image, he is very keen to be a part of top-notch Bollywood filmmakers.

"I want to work with Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and with Rakeysh Mehra again, if possible. But what I'm really kicked about is the variety of roles I've done so far."

Madhavan is soon going to star in yet untitled Hindi and Tamil bilingual and is sporting a newly toned look for the film.

"It's in the same genre as Manoj Shyamalan's 'The Sixth Sense'. But it has no gore, blood or violence. It's a very simple straightforward supernatural thriller...," said Madhavan, who may serve as the online producer of the project.

He has also signed a one-year contract with a Tamil producer, Venkatesh.

"It is a corporate company led by a gentleman called Venkatesh. I'm looking at a no-problem release for all my films. 'Non-corporatised' producers aren't going to survive. I'll be doing three films with Venkatesh's company."

The actor recently celebrated his birthday with his family.

"For the last 15 years I've been doing exactly the same thing on every birthday. I spend the entire day with the family. I meet my parents and my wife Sarita's parents, and we go out together."

"This year my birthday June 1 was supposed to be astrologically auspicious. So I signed some contracts. Then I went back to my family.

"In fact, I don't like making a hoo-ha about my family. I told my producers and fan clubs in Chennai to break away from the norm and use the money spent buying media space to wish me happy birthday for charitable purposes."

Life begins at 36 for Madhavan.

"It begins any time you want it to. Though it seems much longer, I've been in movies for just five years. I've gone through many changes, all better. The last one month in London has really made me feel happier and lighter.

"I've got a four-pack stomach now. Plus, I had two big hits 'Thambi' in Tamil and 'Rang De Basanti' in Hindi. Above all, my son Vedant was born. What more can I want?"

Madhavan grows pensive. "I've gone through a lot. I wouldn't take any money from my parents while I was trying to establish myself. I wouldn't call it a struggle, I'd call it a journey. I've never gone through the depression and defeat that the word struggle implies. I found immediate success with Mani Ratnam's 'Alai Payuthe'. Before that I was doing well for myself on television."