Its high time I did something different: Purab Kohli

Sporting a stubble and a sinister look in his eyes, actor Purab Kohli looks anything but the 'cute-guy-next-door' in his forthcoming film 'Hide n Seek'.

Sporting a stubble and a sinister look in his eyes, actor Purab Kohli looks anything but the 'cute-guy-next-door' in his forthcoming film 'Hide n Seek'.

The actor, who played a fun loving rocker in Abhishek Kapoor's 'Rock On!', is set for a major image overhaul with the thriller, which will see him playing a character with grey shades.

"My earlier films saw me playing the good guy-next-door kind of roles. Working in 'Hide n Seek' was the logical next step for me after 'Rock On!' and 'Yeh Mera India'.

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"The film is an edgy thriller and gives me the chance to explore the role in a different way. My character in the film is shown carrying a heavy baggage from the past," Purabu00a0said in an interview.

Hide & Seek', which is releasing on January 5, is a murder mystery, revolving around six friends. A prank played during a party seventeen years ago starts haunting them again, bring them back together.

"I won't say it is a negative role but my character has grey shades. It is difficult to put it into a category though," said the actor.

The film has been directed by debutante Shawn Aranha and is the first production venture by Apoorva Lakhiya who has earlier directed films like 'Shootout at Lokhandwala' and 'Mission Istanbul'.

"It will keep the audience glued to the cinema screen for two hours. The film is very exciting and captivating, you do not know what is going to happen next," the actor said.

The film stars Mrinalini Sharma, Samir Kochhar, Ayaz Khan, Arjan Bajwa and former Miss India Amruta Patki, who is making her debut with the movie.

Apart from 'Hide N Seek', Purab will also be seen competing with Ranvir Shorey for Gul Panag's affections in 'Fatso', which is a "rectangular love story", directed by Rajat Kapoor.

Purab, who started as a model and VJ on Channel V debuted in 2003 with the film 'Bas Yuhin' opposite Nandita Das and went on to do small roles in films like 'Vaastu Shastra'.

The actor finally got noticed with his subtle portrayal of Sanjay Suri's gay lover in the film 'My Brother Nikhil'. After 'My Brother Nikhil', Purab starred in Shiney Ahuja, Kangana Ranaut starrer 'Woh Lamhe' and later donned the role of a villain in 'Awaarapan'.

But then came 'Rock On!' which was not only lauded by the critics but was also one of the highest box office grossers of 2008. Purab's work in the film garnered him a Special Jury Mention in the Filmfare Awards in March 2009.