The Interview: Five questions to Aziz Mirza

Aziz Mirza is a veteran film director who has made five Bollywood films since 1992, including his latest release Kismat Konnection. Although he started his career in 1985 by producing films with his brother, Mirza's directing debut came in 1989 with television serial Circus starring Shah Rukh Khan and film director Ashutosh Gowariker, who have both starred in four of his films to date including Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Yes Boss, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Chalte Chalte.

Your films are very spread out, but successful. Do you believe in taking your time to make movies?

I am not in a hurry in life. I am not saying I make great films but good ones. Some people don't even do that. I take a laid-back approach but work on the scripts myself which is a long drawn out process and can take a year.

Describe your relationship with Shah Rukh Khan and why he was not cast in Kismat?

It is an exceptionally close relationship in which I have seen Shah Rukh grow up as a person and as an actor. He has an intuitiveness and plays scenes in his own way.

The reason Shah Rukh does not play in Kismat is because he is 40-plus and I required a young man of 24 to 25. But he does do the voiceover as the narrator.

Who wrote the screenplay for this film and what involvement did your son and daughter have?

Vibha Singh and Sai Kabir who have also been with me for a very long time. The story idea was my daughter's and my son has co-directed the film.

Do you actively encourage your family to get involved in the business?

They actively encourage me. This film will be my son's first official co-directorship. During Chalte Chalte most of the technical work was done by him.

What are your future plans and how long do we have to wait for your next hit?

I would like to make another film or three or maybe 23. I stopped planning anything after my wife died [a few days after the hit Chalte Chalte was released] and just accept things. I've stopped swimming and have started to float.

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