Can there not be an integrated thing, a monolith, like Hollywood?
Well, that needs a person with vision. There should be a filmmaker with the vision of Ambani. Do you see yourself ever doing that? I am an artiste. I am like Coppola. The best that I could do would be to reach the level of the late Vasan or Raj Kapoor. That’s what I am aspiring to be. I also do it sometimes for survival. I want to make films and am using the star Kamal Hassan for the purpose. You want to continue to act? Of course. What about direction? Ah, that I am competent. I may concentrate on that. I have directed myself on many occasions. Do you think it’s a challenge to direct somebody else? I’ve done that also. It is easy to deliver. What about trying to get someone else to do that? I’ve done that also. When you see some excellent performances in my films in “Anbe Sivam” for instance, I directed Madhavan in many scenes. But that is because as an actor I was able to speak the jargon better. So I took over. Is that a plus point to be an actor and a director? Of course it is, be
