Five months after Slumdog Millionaire’s Oscar sweep, do you think the film has had any impact on Indian cinema?

I feel it’s a good beginning with this film. There are many Indian filmmakers who have the calibre of making international films. There are wonderful actors in India who have the capacity to make it globally. I think this is an opportunity, a platform that India has got thanks to Slumdog Millionaire and they should take it forward. That movie was the flavour of the season all over the world and Indian cinema must use this flavour. It’s a good beginning.

And you have been largely in the US in the last few months. Do you see a change in their outlook towards Indian cinema?

Obviously people are becoming aware of the Indian film industry. Whether it’s the locations or the content or the technicians, the awareness has gone up. A lot of people want to come and shoot in India. A lot of scripts have been sent to me by production houses and directors who want to shoot a film in India. Hopefully they should tap our content and make films on Indian stories.

You have been basking in the glory of Slumdog Millionaire for almost a year now…

I have moved on. I have forgotten about the Oscars. As a matter of fact, it’s the past. I am working on the show 24. So my complete focus is on 24.

Why did you choose 24 as your next American project? Did your son Harsh help you this time too, as he did with Slumdog?

Anil Kapoor with sanjay dutt and amrita rao in Short Kut

He had made me aware about Danny Boyle. I wasn’t aware of him. I was aware of his work but I didn’t know that he was the guy who made those films. My son educated me. But at the moment, it’s my agents and the people around me in America who are looking after my work. They are very ambitious about what I do next. I am trying my best not to play the stereotyped Indian roles, the stereotyped ‘bad man’. I am trying my best not to get into that trap and do films which are truly international and do characters which are international. That’s why I am playing a very positive character in 24… I am playing the president of a Middle Eastern country.

You were such an integral part of an Oscar-winning film and now you are the producer of a Bollywood masala movie like Short Kut. Do you want to maintain these two identities?

It’s a tough journey I have chosen. But I will try my best to do both. It’s just the beginning. Basically, I am an entertainer. I believe what Raj Kapoor always said: “Make films which are entertaining but they should carry a message in the end.” That makes it a complete film. Short Kut — The Con is On is that kind of a film. It’s got a very, very good story and it has the message that there is no short cut to success.

Danny Boyle is said to be doing his next film in India. Is he casting you again?

No. I am not aware of it. In fact, I don’t think so. I think he is still looking for the right script. He would love to make another film in India, I am sure. Because he loved India, he loved Mumbai. So if he does make another film, I will be the happiest man.

Your daughter Sonam said that you are producing Ayesha not because she is your daughter but because she fits the role. Is that really true?

That’s what I used to tell my brother (Boney Kapoor) also, when he was making his films. And I told the same thing to my kids. I am going to make films with you only if you suit the role. I am not going to cast you if you are not right for the script. That’s because I am not that big a producer. I am not Yash Chopra that I can afford to make films for my children. I am not even Karan Johar. My father never made a film for me. Why should I make films for my children? Of course, if they are right for the film, I will fight for it and make it happen.