Biographie

His first ever movie Shiva which he made in Telugu, catapulted him into a potential and fine film-maker. Sadly, after he started doing hindi films, no one really knows that his first movie ever was Shiva.

Majority of his films are either set in a jungle and/or involve the Bombay underworld.

Owned a video rental shop in the South Indian city Hyderabad before venturing into film-making.

The first film-maker from South India who carved his own place in Hindi films.

Frequently casts Urmila Matondkar in his films - His first venture with Urmila was Drohi and since then he has directed 9 Hindi films out of which he has cast her in 7 of them (excluding the special appearence in 'Company')

About Abhishek Bachchan: "He came in as Amitabh Bachchan's son, so the expectations were extraordinarily high. And then on top of all that he was made to do all those NRI films, which didn't suit him. But I think he is a very, very different actor from his father. Though there is a genetic likeness, their approach to a scene and mode of performance are remarkably different. Abhishek is extremely perceptive

• his understanding of life is more contemporary than me or his dad's."

I don't think a writer or director can be credited with success. It all depends on timing. Shahrukh Khan is such a huge star because he's doing the films that suit him. I loved him in _Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995)_, I think it's a very progressive film. Every star is a product of his time.

About Amitabh Bachchan: "Personally I don't like seeing him in a film like Black (2005). For me, he's a superstar - I'm not interested in seeing him as an actor, I want to see him larger-than-life. I'm not denying that he's a brilliant actor, but to me, his stardom is what his talent is all about. I think he's the only actor in Indian Cinema who can hold the camera without saying a word. He doesn't need camera props and technique to make him look magnetic. When he came, he grew on us. I didn't know who he was - then I saw him in Zanjeer (1973), _Deewar (1975)_and Sholay (1975)...his personality grew in my mind. If he'd followed up Zanjeer (1973) with Rajesh Khanna films, I doubt he'd be such a big star..."

About _The Godfather (1972)_: "What really fascinates me about _The Godfather (1972)_ is that it is more about power than about crime. It is about a powerful family which could be true of any family, be it a dictator or an industrialist."

About Sarkar (2005): "The film is not based on Bal Thackeray, but the similarities are there - Thackeray wields enormous power, has personal charisma and is trusted by lakhs of people. And it's no longer _The Godfather (1972)_, not really... The entire script has been changed. And apart from the two Bachchans, Amitabh and Abhishek, I've decided to cast new non-star faces from theater."