Sreya Basu, TWF, Bollywood Trade News Network

Your new film VIDESH-HEAVEN ON EARTH is about domestic violence that women face when they are married off abroad. The subject sounds similar to Jagmohan Mundhra's PROVOKED (starring Aishwarya Rai). Your comments.

I haven't seen PROVOKED, so can't comment on that. As for the 'sounding similar' part, it may be so. According to William Shakespeare, there are only three subjects in the world-love, death and revenge...the 'domestic violence' theme may be common for both the films, but I am sure the storytelling part is totally different.

Why is the protagonist of all your recent films, be it FIRE, EARTH, WATER and now, VIDSESH, is always a woman?

Because, I believe women face more challenges in life than men and hence it's necessary to highlight them. Besides, in every film, I try to play the protagonist's psyche ...don't get me wrong when I say this...what I mean to say is...all the films you named are about emotional isolation of an individual...I try to help her to get over it.

It is seldom that you are seen promoting for a film. Is it because earlier your trilogy faced too many criticism and challenges and you want mental plates to be cleaned for VIDESH?

Not to clean 'mental plates' but it's promotion for the sake of promotion. Time's changing...now-a-days, every film needs to get promoted and why should I play the odd-one-out! As for the criticism and challenges that FIRE, 1947 EARTH and WATER faced, I don't think about that too much. It's expected that when you make films of a 'controversial' subject, there will be two sets of reactions.

Tell us something about the story.

As I said it's a very delicate subject and needed to be handled with care. It's about the life of an Indian woman, Chand, who leaves her homeland to go to Canada and settle with her husband Rocky. It's about how her life changes and the turbulent situations she has to overcome.

The film, apparently deals with how this woman is tortured by her husband after she gets married and goes abroad.

It's not only that. It's not about the tyranny a married Indian woman is subjected to. It's only one side of it. It's about a fight within oneself and how one overcomes it. It's also about life and hope and there is a bright side to it also. VIDESH is a subject that is very close to my heart.

Why did you choose Preity Zinta?

I think she was the perfect one who could have done justice to the film and she lived up to the expectations. In fact she has given a power packed performance and exceeded my expectations. I think this is one of her best performances till date and I must compliment her for doing such a splendid job.

Do you make 'controversial' films purposively?

I only make films on subjects that make me curious to explore it more.

So, will you make a Bollywood masala film if that makes you 'curious'?

I don't think anyone feels 'curious' about masala movies-they are just light entertainers. I do watch commercial Bolly flicks but don't think am ready to make one.

Is there any filmmaker who is at par with you?

I won't answer that. But will tell you about a filmmaker that I look up to...it's Satyajit Ray. And one of my favourite films is his APUR SANSAR.

What's your take on Danny Boyle's SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE winning Oscars?

It's good for the team...the film is an OK one...it's more a Western than Indian film.

What are your future projects?

There are two at the moment - one, I am working on Salman Rushdie's 'Midnight Children'. The script will be jointly written by Salman and me. I have Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das in mind to play two important characters in the film, but have yet not decided on the man to play Saleem Sinai. Another one is EXCLUSION, which will be based on the Komagatamaru incident of 1914. Akshay Kumar will play the protagonist and we hope to start shooting for it by the end of this year.

A Bollywood actor that you would love working with?

I want to work with Amitabh Bachchan...but at the moment don't have a script for him.