Since India-Today is a subscription site, I post the entire interview here.....

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CURRENT ISSUE APRIL 8, 2002

INTERVIEW: AAMIR KHAN

"It's Time Indian Talent Moved to the World Arena"
India Today's Anil Padmanabhan spoke with Aamir Khan after the Oscars at Los Angeles. Excerpts from the exclusive interview:
Q: What are the major lessons you have learnt?
A. First of all we are aware that audiences in the US and elsewhere are ready for Indian cinema. They are curious about Indian cinema. I am trying to make other filmmakers aware
of this interest. Secondly, I have learnt how marketing operates over here. How you have sales agents going around selling your movie to various distributors and how the distribution network works.

Q. How does the distribution network here differ from that in India?
A. In India it is concentrated in the hands of two or three players and hence it is almost a monopoly. I have also been approached by distributors to release films to the Indian
audiences worldwide. One of them came up to me in London and offered to distribute movies to world wide audiences.

Q. How did it feel on D-day?
A. The experience of the event itself was wonderful. We had a great time. It was a very entertaining evening and very glittering. It was great to be a part of that. And we were very
proud to represent our country on the stage of world cinema. Of course we were disappointed that we did not win. But I think the Bosnian film was also good. We lost to a good film. And we met so many members over there, before the event had started. They come up to me and congratulated me for the film that we had made. In fact a lot of them said thank you for making such a wonderful film. They were very appreciative and a lot of them were disappointed that we did not win. The most positive thing in all this was the kind of love and support we have received from Indians all over the world. And people who have loved Lagaan and have been supporting it in every way. I think that is the biggest victory for us. Perhaps, we were the only film there which had the largest support in the world actually. Our population is 1 billion and hence the biggest audience in the world. In fact, if you saw the web sites which ran up voting choices, it was clear that we were way ahead. We were very proud of this fact. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all our audiences who have supported the film for so many weeks.


Q. What next?
A. First of all, I am taking a two-month holiday with my family. Haven't decided where to go. My next film is a commitment for Mr Bachchan's production house. Yusuf Khan is the director of the film and I expect to start work after my holiday. I am also looking forward to finding material for my production house and looking forward to reading scripts from other directors. Let's see if we can find something that can appeal to worldwide audiences. Something not more than two hours long. I think it is time that talent from India moves into the world arena. The world is ready for it. Of course we should be making films for our own audiences. But once in a while we should make a film for the world audience as well.


Q. Do you think that Lagaan is the benchmark for cross over movies
emerging from India?
A. I do believe that this trend has been happening in recent times. The success of K3G has shown this amply. Lagaan has taken the experiment forward. Like I said earlier it is time to make crossover movies. And there is a huge interest in the Indian market from Hollywood
players. I met Goldie Hawn and she told me of the movie that she plans to start in India some time later this year. We got huge audiences in India and this is attracting Hollywood. They also realise that we've got a lot of talent in India.


Q. What has been the response to you per se in Hollywood?
A. Very positive. Distribution companies, producers and directors have approached me in recent weeks though I am not in a hurry to strike any deals. I will see how each offer is and decide on the merit of it. Because for me the material is most important. I am a creative person rather than a business person. A number of them want to tie up with my company in co-production. Again, if the material is exciting I will be willing to do it.


Q. Will you be appointing an agent in the US?
A. Yes. There are about five big agencies here. You have William Morris, ICM, Endeavour
and CAA. I have met with Endeavour and William Morris. They are very keen. In fact, they have been calling every day. But I have been busy with the Oscars. Even today they called and said that it doesn't matter that you did not win, you made a great film. They have all seen the film. I should be deciding in the next few days.

Aamir did sign up with Endeavour eventually.