Your appetite is said to be legendary!
My parents taught me to eat a meal when hungry. I don�t touch junk food. No French fries, crispies, chocolates and soft drinks. I�d rather open the fridge and have dal-chawal or whatever my body is craving for.
Did you inherit these eating habits?
Yes, from my Dad. He�s the finest Bengali chef I know. Aparna Sen�s home comes close. Dad�s Mustard Fish and Crumb-fried Prawn Cutlets are incredible. And his Mutton Chaap is better than even the Lucknow royal family�s!
What kind of food do you like best?
Indian and UP food, by far. Also Bengali. Among international cuisines, I like the sushi, sashimi and tempura of Japanese food. Chinese is good, but who can tell what is great Chinese food? There�s nothing that differentiates between normal and fine, between Golden Dragon and China Gate!
How do you stay in shape?
I exercise. I�ve been playing rugby for 21 years. I�ve played 16 internationals for India. I dislike gyms. They are air-conditioned and pansyish. I believe a gym is where you ought to sweat. So I play outdoor games. I�m blessed with good hand-eye coordination, reflexes and ball sense.
What are your favourite restaurants?
Britania, Thai Pavilion, Indigo in Bombay. I love the hot dogs at Mr. Pink�s in LA and the sensational thin crust pizza at Vitelli. Also the ice-creams at Venice. Happily, I can eat anywhere in Goa.
What�s the best meal you have had?
It was at 4 a.m. in Gwalior at a dhaba. The city was shut, but this place at a truck naka was open. They served Rassewale Mutton that was watery thin and piping hot, Mutter that was fresh, sweet and bursting in the mouth, and Roti! But my favourite meal is Shammi Kebab with Dal and Parathas.
How often do you entertain at home?
Not at all! Death to me would be dining with people! I love to eat alone. That way I can taste the food. I can either talk or eat. My brain cells don�t take both.
If you entertained, who would you invite?
My dream table would be Hillary and Bill Clinton, Salman Rushdie, Woody Allen, Arundhati Roy and Y. Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
Rahul Bose, actor, rugby player, man about town, was taught by his parents to eat anything anytime and anywhere. Also to clean his plate. That childhood training has made him a �massive� foodie. His appetite, he says, is scary. Despite his sharp features and finely sculpted body, he has never dieted. �I eat what I want, when I want, and how much I want,� he admits. �Lions eat that way!�
