"Do not compare Bollywood to Hollywood"

You said you are planning to make a film on your experiencesand are searching for an Indian actress to play an important role in the film?Any particular reasons for that?

Yes. I need someone with eastern features to play that role.I need to balance the relationship between my star cast. I am a person from theWest but I feel much more Eastern. I’m looking at my options. I’ll see if I cantalk to Katrina Kaif. She has the sort of presence that’s interesting…not inthe Bollywood sense but she has a presence on screen that impresses me.

You claim that it is incorrect to compare Indian cinema toHollywood. Why do you feel so?

I have seen Indian newspapers and actors talking aboutHollywood films, doing roles in Hollywood and they speak about Academy Awardsall the time. What is an Academy Award? It is a manipulation of everything.Indians have the capacity to make spectacular films. I made a film which wasnominated for Academy Awards. I didn’t accept it. Somebody rang and told methey can get me a nomination for another film of mine for $100,000. It is themost stupid, crazy and ridiculous thing. Most people in the world would nothave heard of Indian films. They think the whole world watches the Academy Awards.I can’t take it seriously. You should just ignore it! Indian film industry andIndian filmmakers always have this comparison between Hollywood and Bollywood.Leave Hollywood alone.  India can makemuch bigger films with more insanity and still have the heart.

You have been to numerous film festivals across the world.What according to you goes into making a perfect film festival?

A film festival should not be about money but about cinema.There are smaller film festivals emerging right around the globe that are verywell attended and popular. Several small fests that started from nothing bythinking, feeling and struggling people who were desperate to see a real film.They don’t want to be fed the Hollywood rubbish all the time. I like to watch afilm that nourishes me and makes me feel proud of being a part of the humanrace. Every festival should be conscious of giving the cinema its voice to knowits true power.

What advice would you give to the Goan filmmakers who wishto expand their canvas and present their films in a better way?

Well, they should follow their hearts. They should not useHollywood as examples. The Indian films are great. Look at the films Mrinal Senmade. I think the people worldwide became aware that India existed in the filmindustry because of that. It was dripping with humanity and individuality andwith true Indian honesty. The reverberations were felt all across the globe.When I was a young filmmaker, I tried to find the right people. I would writethe script, film it, would act in it and distribute it. If you have the rightfire in you, you can conquer the universe.