(From left to right) Director Andy Tennant with Hitch stars Kevin James and Amber Valletta

Fools Rush In, Sweet Home Alabama and now Hitch ? you have become a master of romantic comedy. What draws you to this genre?

I find love immensely fascinating. I think love is a wonderful problem that we never solve. Throughout history we have had so many writers ? Shakespeare, Chekov, Moliere, Euripedes ? writing about love in a comic way or in a dramatic way. And I believe I have handled both the forms but yes, I love the comedy way of showing love.

Do you play with small comic situations or look at the bigger picture?

Once I have the script, I try to explore a particular theme. Like in Hitch, there is a lot of self-esteem and self-image involved. The theme should be worthy of a movie, of course. Also, there should be the attempt to try and find your own voice through the film.

You have a thorough grounding in theatre. Does it help when you make your movies?

Yes, I think it does. When I studied theatre, I studied the history of the art form. Why drama works. Why comedy works. When you do the Chekovs and the Shakespeares, you get to know so much more about things like characterisation and blocking. You know the difference between a French farce and a Greek comedy. I know some of my colleagues who have come from film schools, they know only about the history of cinema. That?s not bad but I believe I have a broader sense because of my theatre schooling. It also helps in sharing emotions on screen.

Coming to Hitch, how did you feel with Will Smith inviting you to direct the film?

That?s the great thing about Hollywood. I know the exact day because it changed my whole year. It was November 5, 2003, when my son said Will Smith?s on the phone. On November 6, I found myself in New York planning Hitch.

What was it like directing him?

It?s like anything. Will is a force to be reckoned with. He enjoys being Will Smith. With him, it?s like being stuck in a whirlwind. It?s just great fun. He likes to laugh and make others laugh as well.

Hitch?s leading lady is Eva Mendes who is Latino. From the Mexican Salma Hayek in Fools Rush In to the Hong Kong star Chow Yun Fat in Anna And The King to now Eva, you have worked with big international names. Was it difficult adapting to the different schools of acting?

Not really. It is important to me that I got to work with terrific actors of different cultures ? Salma, Chow Yun, Eva, even Anjelica Huston, who is Irish. Also I shot my films in such culturally different countries like Malaysia, France, USA?

You have been into theatre, done such great television work and now scored big with cinema. Which medium are you most at home with?

I like my gypsy style of making movies. This whole camaraderie that is involved in the process. A new film in a new city. Starting from absolute scratch. Living that life. Then after finishing the film, doing it all over again with a different group of people. In television, if you are lucky you may be stuck with the same set of people for five to six years.

(From top) Will Smith and Smith with Hitch co-stars Amber Valletta and Eva Mendes

Your television work, Wonder Years and Parker Lewis Can?t Lose, have been such big hits. What is the recipe of sustained small screen success?

Television serials are all about writing. This may sound and read cliched but for a television serial to work every week, it has to have compelling writing; some great stories. You have to keep your viewers completely hooked on to the serial ? that?s a great part of TV.

Do you act out scenes to your actors or just let them do their own thing?

Coming from theatre, I get to block scenes. As I write and rewrite scenes, however relaxed and natural they may look, they are all very scripted.

Have you seen any Indian film?

Not really, but I am looking forward to watching Bride & Prejudice. I have been touring with the Hitch team for the last few weeks and before that I was making the film. So I haven?t had the time to watch any film, not even the Oscar-nominated ones. And when I am not busy I am with my children watching films like The Incredibles, Shrek 2 and Shark Tale.

What is the status of your scheduled thriller with Julia Roberts?

It was supposed to start this year but with her getting the twins, it will take a couple of years to take off. I was very excited about the film because it was to be shot in Spain.

Locations play a huge role in your choice of films?

Oh yes! I am a big location whore. I pick movies depending solely on the location. My family gets to go to these places. It?s another culture altogether.

So are you impressed by India enough to shoot a film here?

I just came after touring Rajasthan. And yes, I am trying to find a way to come here and make a movie. I had these guides telling me great stories about the places. It was too much to digest all at once. Jaipur, Udaipur ? it was fascinating. I used to get back to my hotel room, then visit the book stores and go through all the pictures. I wanted to become a student all over again. I?d love to come back and shoot a film here. I have a bit of an idea, too.

What now?

Go back home and be daddy for the next three-four months.