/> When Rakesh Roshan hears about a teenager in Madhya Pradesh leaping from the balcony of a theatre while watching Hrithik Roshan fly like a meteor in Krrish, he grows pensive.

"I know kids all over the country have responded with unexpected enthusiasm to Hrithik's action scenes. But they must understand those are makebelieve leaps in the air, certainly not to be imitated."

He's no longer scared, and he is certainly not nervous about taking on mainstream biggies. And so what if Rakesh Roshan's Krrish is sandwiched between two of Hollywood's most expensive spectacles?

"The response everywhere has been unbelievable. In fact," laughs Rakesh Roshan on the day of his marathon movie's release, "in India my film competes wth the dubbed Hindi versions of MI3 and Superman.

In the West Krrish competes with those Hollywood biggies in English. I can only say Krrish has raised the bar for special effects in Indian films. Whatever is attempted now in this country has to be as good as the effects in Krrish. Even I'll have to live up to the standards I've set in Krrish."

But Rakesh is unfazed. "We've released our film alongside the other mainstream American films in the UK and US. Krrish isn't going to be in NRI-frequented theatres only, but also in mainstream theatres where Hollywood films are released."

But Rakesh Roshan hasn't dubbed his film for English-speaking audiences abroad. " I think it looks silly to hear Indian characters like a grand-mother in a village or a domesticated Bhabhi speaking English in a strange accent.

I think it's wrong of us to dub Indian films into English. When Ang Lee released Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon in the West he kept the original Chinese and put English subtitles. I'm doing the same in Krrish. It's not a dialogue-oriented film in the first place.

We haven't fallen short of any of the biggies. Plus we've a great emotional plot. The world is changing, and so's cinema. For the first time I've targeted my film at the non-conventional non-NRI audience.

And it's being released in mainstream theatres. In Singapore we've booked all the prominent mainstream theatres. In the UK and US we've tied up with mainstream distributors who've booked the same theatres where MI3 and Superman get screened. "

Rakesh Roshan is more amused than amazed by the makers of Alag who claim the Roshan are upset about Alag making it into theatres a week in advance of Krrish.

"Why should I be upset? It's not as if we've both remade the same film. I've no idea what their film was about. Even if it was about a super-hero, there're so many kinds of super-heroes. And as I've said Krrish isn't about a super-hero but the awakening of a super-hero."

He glows when he talks about his cast. "I don't indulge in any politics with any member of my cast. Although Hrithik is my son, I'm equally sincere with every actor. I don't waste anyone's time. I respect Rekha a lot, and I can't forget that moment when she agreed to co-star with me in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Khubsoorat when I was down and out.

For an actress as fine and glamorous a Rekha to play a grandmother in Krrish only proves her versatility. It doesn't mean she'll now be slotted as a grandmother.

Rekha is too glamorous for that. Heads turn at any function she attends. As for Priyanka Chopra, she's fantastic in Krrish. I was a bit nervous about her on the first day. Everyone questioned me about signing her. They said she was doing negative and seductive roles. But Priyanka plays the simple girl in Krrish so beautifully."

What about Hrithik Roshan? "He's a brilliant actor and I'm not the least nervous about him," says the proud father. "I'm sure when they see him in the West they'll realize here's an actor who can match Hollywood actors and had the potential to cross over."

"One thing is for sure, audiences have definitely appreciated my honesty and sincerity. I've lifted the standards of our cinema to international standards. I wanted to show the world we in India can make a film comparable with theirs. Now the rest is up to God."