Los Angeles, March 24 :    Los Angeles, March 24:  As Ashutosh Gowarikar set off with Aamir Khan and their respective wives for the Kodak Theater amid the tightest Oscar security seen in Hollywood history, the director of Lagaan was in a philosophical mood. All streets around the Kodak Theater, from where the Oscar ceremony was being broadcast live to a world audience, have been sealed off and officers of the LAPD were patrolling the area in scenes which resembled hundreds of American movies. Gowarikar recalled the sequence in Lagaan where the clouds were passing over the village to the accompaniment of the song, Ghana Ghana. 'The question is whether it will rain or whether the sun will come out?' quipped Gowarikar. A source in the Lagaan camp said: 'We heard it is between Lagaan and No Man's Land.' Most people are tipping the French entry, Amélie, though. Lagaan has made such a good impression on members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Science and Arts that many people in Hollywood are now keen to do business with Bollywood. At a glittering reception hosted at the Century Plaza Hotel in Beverly Hills last night for the Lagaan team by Lalit Mansingh, the Indian ambassador called for greater collaboration between Hollywood and Bollywood. But there was an angry response from Deepak Nayar, the Los Angeles-based Indian producer of films such as Bhopal Express, who revealed that Oliver Stone wanted to shoot a $120-million movie on Alexander the Great. But India, said Nayar, was not equipped to offer the necessary facilities. Mansingh told the guests, who included actress Goldie Hawn: 'What we seek with Hollywood is a strategic partnership.' The new positive mood in Hollywood towards Indian films was reflected at a seminar held at the Academy yesterday attended by all five directors nominated for an Oscar in the foreign film category. The seminar was moderated by Mark Johnson, chairman of the foreign films committee of the Academy, who told an audience, including dozens of Academy members who had voted, that Hollywood had much to learn from outsiders. He pointed out that Lagaan had used 10,000 extras in one scene, impressive even by Hollywood standards. 'This year has been a spectacular year for us. Last year we thought we had topped ourselves with films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Amores Perres. But this year the nominated five films surpassed last year's,' said Johnson, who has produced Rain Man. He commented: 'The films we chose this year represent the best world cinema has to offer and can clearly humble those of us working in Hollywood. I offer up as I did last year that those of us working in Hollywood should get our passports renewed if we are looking to the future.' In a separate interview with The Telegraph, Johnson revealed that he had personally sat through 35 of the 51 films submitted for Best Foreign Film this year. On Lagaan, he said: 'I loved it. I have seen it twice. It reminds me of the best of American musicals. When it was over, the entire crowd (at the Academy) burst into applause. It's so beautifully made.' Aamir told The Telegraph of a comment made to him by an Academy member: 'The five foreign films are better than the five in the Best Picture category.' However, according to Nayar, the high expectations raised by Lagaan may not be met. Nayar said: 'Mr Mansingh said about India and Hollywood getting together. I think it's far-fetched simply because India does not have the infrastructure. They (Stone) are going to end up shooting in Morocco.' Nayar said: 'The Indians must understand that when film personalities of this stature (Stone) come, we must welcome them with open arms and allow them a little more flexibility as we do for our Indian counterparts. Imagine Amitabh Bachchan or Aamir Khan - and doors would open.' Doors have certainly opened for Aamir - he decided to wear a Tarun Tahiliani sherwani to the Oscars - and Ashutosh who intended to 'party all night' at the Governor's Ball.