Q: As speculated by many, Rang De Basanti is India’s official entry to the Oscars. It must be feeling great.

The movie has been one long celebration, right from shooting it to the post-release phase. Every time Ronnie [Screwvala; producer] thinks that he has thrown the last party for RDB, the movie gives him reason to throw one more (smiles). I believe that the right movie has gone through. Because it’s very rarely that a film ceases to be just a film and becomes a movement.

Q: Will you be going to America to promote the film in preparation for the Oscars?

Nope, I am not going to the States (smiles). But I would love to be there if it makes it to the Oscars.

Q: Are its chances equally good or better than Lagaan?

I think they are going to give it their best shot. But I don’t think you can ever compare two films. I mean as an actor in the film you obviously want your film to be accepted and you want it to win an award, but it’s very difficult to judge and compare until and unless you have seen the other films that would compete.

Q: There are high hopes since RDB has been appreciated internationally.

Obviously, it’s lucky for a film to get that kind of recognition. And from what I hear, apparently a lot of people watching the movie in Australia, in the UK and the US were actually foreigners. They weren’t of Indian descent; they weren’t NRIs. I have a couple of friends from abroad who loved it after watching it in the theatres. So I think it’s a film that reaches out to a lot of people in lots of different places. Rakyesh [Omprakash Mehra; director] had said something very nice. He said he was inspired by Mandal Commission and also by the Tiananmen Square thing in China. It was also about other little student revolutions all over the world. So I think it’s very relatable in that sort of sense.

Q: It has touched the audiences a great deal. So it can have that sort of universal appeal when it’s screened for the Oscars, too.

The film is very special. For me this has been a great experience as I had fun making the movie which in itself is superb. The movie has gone on to become a commercial success which is another amazing thing. Then you realise the sort of impact the film has had on people in India — be it the Jessica Lall or the medical students thing. They call it the RDB Effect. So it’s great that the movie comes across and touches people so deeply that they feel motivated to make a change. All the fanmail I get, all the young people around tell me that they have decided to actually do something positive. So it makes you realise the reach of cinema. Cinema is great for entertainment and if you can entertain and give a message then I think you have done a great job. I think Rakeysh has done a damn good job that way. He has entertained and has also made a strong point. Hopefully this point will get across while it’s being judged for the Oscars too.

Q: The English version — Paint Me Yellow — didn’t get made eventually. Was it a good decision?

First of all you realise that every film that has crossed over actually has crossed over in its own language. Whether it’s a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, whether it’s some big French film or the Iranian films. They have never tried to make it into an English film as well and then sell it abroad. That’s because what happens is when you speak in your own language there is a certain flavour that comes into the film. You know it would be very difficult for me as Aslam to have a Chandni Chowk accent in English or as DJ for Aamir to have a Punjabi accent. That would very silly. English audiences watching the film would wonder why we are talking so strangely. So there was no need to make a bilingual. It takes a lot of work and it doesn’t really serve any purpose.

Q: After RDB is publicised in America, there might be a lot of offers from abroad as well?

I am open to doing any cinema anywhere in the world as long as it is something that excites me. If I feel I want to be part of this film, I will be a part of it. But I would try to be popular in India more than being popular abroad. I am not dying to go abroad and do a film. I would rather do a film in Hindi and have the audience watch it in Hindi than go abroad and play an Indian part in a foreign film. If it’s a typical Indian character in an English film I would never do it. If it’s a role which they are casting me for being the actor I am and not because I am Indian, then I would consider it.

Q: How is your family dealing with your fame and adulation?

I don’t think anything much has changed for them. They still treat me the same way and give me exactly the same advice they were giving me years back. I am the same person for them. I just know that my father is really proud. He cuts every article that comes out and puts it in his file. I think they are also relieved because I have been very restless and have always wanted to do things my own way. I have gone through a lot of different things in life Seven-eight years back I decided to be a part of movies but before that I had gone through 35 to 40 different profession changes. So I think they are happy about the fact that finally I found something on which my heart is set.