"I
salute
Aamir
Khan
as
he
is
an
actor
that
walks
with
ease
in
both
commercial
as
well
as
art
cinema," says
producer-director
Vinod
Pandey
who
has
made
bold
but
aesthetically
sound
films
like
Yeh
Nazdeekiyan,
Ek
Naya
Rishta
and
the
more
recent
Sins
that
marked
the
debut
of
one
of
the
most
promising
actors
Shiney
Ahuja
as
the
Priest
who
commits
the
sin
of
having
sex.
"I
feel
happy
for
Shiney
but
I
can't
take
the
entire
credit.
He
started
Hazaron
Khwahishen
Aisi
before
my
film
but
since
Sins
was
released
earlier,
it
became
his
first
film," says
the
proud
director.
So,
how
did
he
handle
the
protests
that
marred
the
film
from
a
certain
section
of
Christian
Clergy?
"I
think
it
was
all
politicized.
If
there
was
any
cause
for
concern
then
I
should
have
faced
protests
in
Kerala
where
a
huge
number
of
Christian
population
lives.
But
nothing
happened.
So,
why
stop
my
film
in
Mumbai?"
Vinod
Pandey
is
a
director
with
a
small
but
significant
body
of
work.
His
take
on
the
fiery
extra
marital
affair
between
Mark
Zuber
and
Parveen
Babi
in
Yeh
Nazdikiyan
was
extremely
progressive.
Shabana
Azmi
was
not
merely
a
suffering
wife
who
accepts
her
destiny.
Neither
does
she
retaliate
aggressively.
The
redefinition
of
trust
and
friendship
coupled
with
the
lust
and
loneliness
of
the
'other
woman'
was
handled
very
sensitively.
Ek
Baar
Phir,
Ek
Naya
Rishta
(With
Rekha
and
Raj
Kiran),
Biddu's
Star
(With
Kumar
Gaurav),
Sach,
Akeli
(Not
released)
and
then
Sins
complete
his
filmography.
"After
a
point
of
time
I
started
doing
lots
of
television
and
then
gradually
I
came
back
to
Cinema
and
now
I
am
into
thick
of
things,"
he
says.
So,
what
are
some
of
his
forthcoming
films?
"I
am
ready
with
Red
Swastika
which
is
a
psycho
thriller.
It's
a
story
of
a
disturbed
person
who
goes
on
a
killing
spree.
I
am
also
starting
a
film
titled
Din
Ke
Andhere
Mein
that
can
be
literally
translated
as
In
the
darkness
of
the
daylight.
Then
there's
an
English
film
called
Ambassador's
Wife.
I
am
also
working
on
a
comedy
called
Chaloo
Movie."
It
is
rumored
that
Red
Swastika
has
your
heroine
Mona
Chopra
indulging
in
frontal
nudity.
"She
is
Maneka
Chopra
for
me
as
that's
how
she
is
being
credited
in
Red
Swastika.
Yes,
there
are
scenes
which
are
sensual
and
sexual
but
they
are
an
integral
part
of
the
film
and
have
been
done
aesthetically.
It
also
has
Harsh
Chaya,
Deepshikha
and
a
newcomer
Deepraj.
And
all
of
them
have
given
outstanding
performances.
I
am
more
comfortable
working
with
newcomers
rather
than
working
with
stars."
With
the
Multiplex
Culture
coming
in
and
diversely
different
films
like
Rang
De
Basanti,
Being
Cyrus
and
Black
to
name
a
few
scoring
at
the
box
office,
how
do
you
foresee
the
future
from
here
on?
"These
are
good
and
exciting
times
for
challenging
cinema.
Audience
is
accepting
different
kinds
of
content.
The
time
of
piti
pitai
films
are
gone
now.
These
are
times
to
be
daringly
different,"
he
says
with
a
tinge
of
excitement.
In
your
opinion
who
are
the
directors
to
look-out-for?
"I
respect
Ram
Gopal
Verma
a
lot
for
he
is
always
doing
a
different
quality
of
films.
He
is
very
competent.
Sarkar
is
a
brilliant
film
except
for
a
few
portions.
I
also
like
Anurag
Basu
and
Vivek
Agnihotri."
So,
finally,
being
the
part
of
jury
that
selected
Paheli
as
India's
entry
to
Oscars,
do
you
still
stand
by
your
decision?
"Absolutely,
without
any
reservation.
I
feel
Paheli
was
the
right
choice.
It
was
a
unanimous
decision.
It
was
a
film
representative
of
Indian
ethos,
costumes,
music,
dances.
The
cinematography,
the
art
designing,
the
performances
were
very
good.
And
then
the
final
dilemma
was
very
human."