Sushant had a back-up plan if 'Kai Po Che failed' - to open canteen!

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was ready to run a canteen and make his own short films in case his Bollywood dream failed to take off.

The young actor moved from the TV industry to try his luck on the big screen with "Kai Po Che!", which ended up winning him a lot of appreciation as well as plum offers and projects.

"When I quit television, I had thought that if I would not get work in the film industry, then I will open a canteen in the Film City and would make my own short films and work in them," the 27-year-old said here Wednesday at the launch of People magazine's cover featuring him.

Post "Kai Po Che!", Sushant has signed up for Rajkumar Hirani's "P.K.", and also has a Yash Raj Films (YRF) project in hand. The latter will be directed by Maneesh Sharma.

Sushant said he auditioned as many as 12 times for "Kai Po Che!" and did extensive preparation to audition for "P.K." and the YRF movie.

"For my first film 'Kai Po Che!', I gave 12 auditions, for my second film 'P.K.' I gave three auditions and for my third film with Yash Raj Films, I did a one-month workshop and gave separate auditions to Aditya Chopra and Maneesh Sharma," he said.

I'll do Ekta's films without reading script

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput says he would be ready to do any of Ekta Kapoor's films even without reading the script, because he credits the TV and film producer greatly for his success.

Sushant began his acting career on the small screen with a role in Ekta's show "Kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil".

"When I used to do theatre, then she (Ekta) was the first person who showed confidence in me and whatever I am today is because of her to a great extent," the 27-year-old said here Wednesday at the launch of People magazine's cover featuring him.

"I think she is the only producer in the industry for whom I will do a film without even reading the script," added Sushant, who later became popular as the lead in Ekta's serial "Pavitra Rishta".

Sushant quit "Pavitra Rishta" October 2011 to pursue a filmmaking course abroad. He recently made a successful Bollywood debut this year with Ekta's cousin Abhishek Kapoor's "Kai Po Che".