Q: You’re making a film with Shah Rukh Khan!

Yes, finally! We’ve been discussing projects for years. It’s too early to discuss the project. We’re doing it in the second half of this year. But I want to make a film that will project Shah Rukh’s potential as a star rather than his capabilities as an actor. I want to tap what Shah Rukh is loved for. His stardom. And I want to do it my way.

Q: Why have you lately chosen to stay away from the media?

Not consciously. I have to have something to talk to about. During the last three months I was totally engrossed in directing Shiva. It wasn’t a conscious decision to stay away. I don’t want to answer questions on what’s my favourite food and favourite holiday spot.

Q: What’s your favourite food and holiday spot?

Next question, please.

Q: So will Shiva be like just another RGV film that will come and go?

I don’t think I make any film that will just come and go. One reason why I’ve kept silent is, I wanted to steer clear of the confusions about whether Shiva was a remake of my first Hindi film Shiva or of James.

The whole idea of making James was to make an action film in the style of the 70s and 80s. It was meant to be a contemporised Shiva. By the time it came out it was nothing like what it was planned to be. My new Shiva is remake of my old Shiva, but in a way that James was meant to be. Shiva, with which I started my Hindi career, came in the 70s. It was about one man’s fight against campus violence. To me that appeared outdated. In Shiva, Mohit Ahlawat plays a cop just out of the police academy and how he’s faced with the harsh reality outside his training which he isn’t prepared for.

Q: Do you have the same cast as James?

Yes. But they aren’t playing the same characters in Shiva. Why would I do something so stupid? I had tremendous faith in the original cast and crew of James. Just because the film didn’t work I don’t have to change my convictions and beliefs. I don’t judge potential by Fridays. Mohit Ahlawat remains a talented actor regardless of whether James worked or not. I can’t join the trade analysts in saying he’s finished just because James didn’t work.

Q: You suddenly decided to do Shiva. Didn’t that ‘brake’ your other plans?

Not really. I only go from film to film. I was supposed to start Sholay. But Mr Bachchan’s unexpected illness put a brake on that. In any case Sholay was supposed to start not before July 2006. So I did have the time to squeeze in a film unexpectedly. Shiva takes me into a genre that I truly admire. I started my career with it, so I’ve a certain attachment to it. Let’s see what I’ve done with the genre.

Q: Your experience with the films, with your assistants and associates hasn’t been too rewarding lately?

They aren’t to blame. As the decision-maker the final responsibility rests with me. People don’t understand the mechanics of making a film. They feel an assistant is responsible for a flop. But for all practical purposes I’m equally responsible for the flops, if not more.

Q: Then there’s ingratitude?you had to deal with a lot of that lately.

What do you mean? I don’t believe in gratitude. I’ve told you a hundred times, I don’t work with anyone out of a sense of charity. I use people as long as they’re useful to me.

Q: What about Antara Mali? She said she felt bound down by her commitment to your company. I don’t think she said that. She said she decided to move away from the Factory. I don’t know what she meant. She was never under contract to act in or make a number of films. She was free to go anywhere.

Q: Again, you’re hiding your disappointment under practical cynicism. We’ve seen your proteges from Manoj Bajpai to Antara Mali move away.

That’s your reading. And you’re wrong. It’s a free country. Everyone is entitled to do what they want. It could be that some of these people had unpleasant experiences with me?or they may not have liked my style of functioning. They had every right to move away. No one is bound to stay with the Factory. I’ll go as far as to say, they were all right, I was wrong.

Q: In what way?

They fulfilled my expectations of them. But obviously I couldn’t live up to their expectations. It’s not like I played host to them at a dinner. I didn’t serve up the meal to satisfy their appetite. I did it for myself. I had a personal agenda. I work with them for my own selfish reasons.

Q: Who but you would’ve given Antara Mali a chance to direct a film so early in her career?

Why go into specifics? I don’t think anyone in my Factory was doing her a favour. Everyone needs a chance to prove himself or herself. What about me? What if Nagarjuna hadn’t trusted me with directing him in Shiva? It was a superhit. My second film was a disaster. If I knew how to make a hit film why would I make flops? You’ve to trust people to deliver. Even if they don’t, it doesn’t mean you stop trusting people.

Q: You need to keep discovering new talent because the old keeps moving away from you.

I don’t think it’s to do with the old and the new. I give people a break when I see that enthusiasm and passion and newness in someone. I cash in on those qualities. After a while they don’t remain the same. They move on, whatever the reason.

Q: Your next production Darna Zaroori Hai is around the corner?

There are seven episodes, each directed by different people. Sajid Khan has directed the prologue?the beginning title sequences. Then there’s the Sarkar writer Manish Gupta, then me directing Mr Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh, then Jijy Philips (of My Wife’s Murder), Prawal Raman (of Gayab) and a new director Vivek Shah followed by Chekravarthy, that’s about it.

Q: How is it different from Darna Manaa Hai?

In Darna Manaa Hai I felt that all the stories were not evenly put together. The genre and concept were new and we couldn’t make all the stories engaging.

People ask me why I made Darnaa Zaroori Hai when Darna Manaa Hai didn’t work. Just because love stories don’t work you don’t stop making love stories. I’ve kept the old mistakes in mind. I might have made fresh mistakes. But not old ones. I never repeat mistakes.

Q: Except trusting new talent? There you go again?My intention was never for them to be grateful since I’m not a grateful person myself. It’s a stupid emotion. Let me tell you, I’ve too much happening in my life and career to bother. I’ve quite a few assistants working on projects ? 20 films by 20 assistants by the end of next year. If you decide to make a film I’ll make you the 21st director.

Q: Has Mohit gone beyond James in Shiva?

He never went anywhere with James.