/> As a movie buff and a filmmaker Karan has never been more excited.

"Suddenly there's a huge amount of excitement for our cinema. God bless the cine-goer. I'm excited about this year. There're so many big films and they'll change the economics of the industry.

After a cerebral and intense Rang De Basanti there was a dramatic Fanaah and then a funny Phir Hera Pheri. Now we've Krissh, Omkara, Munnabhai 2, Kabhi Alvidaa, Dhoom 2, Don...What an amazing buffet of entertainment!"

Karan wants to see them all. But first Krissh. "I saw Krissh. It's amazing and Hrithik is outstanding. Every frame of it makes me delighted. At his age Rakesh Roshan has made a far more techno-savvy film than I could've done at my age. Krissh is going to be a huge hit."

Expectations about KANK scare him. "But by now I'm used to it. Every time I come up with a film the previous one becomes good. When K3G was released it wasn't good. In retrospect it became a likeable film. At the end of the day everything today seems exciting in relation to yesterday."

Karan is excited by the thought of working with the best talent in show-business. "For me Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy who've done the music in KANK are the best. Whether it's Javed Akhtar or Shah Rukh Khan, I want only the best in my cinema." Shankar-Ehsan-Loy will be doing the music score in all of Karan's forthcoming films. "Why not? They're a beautiful fusion of East and West. While Shankar is trained in Indian classical, Ehsaan and Loy are familiar with Western styles.

I think they're by far the most talented music composers of the country. I say this not because I've worked with them but because I hear all kinds of film music and understand the market.

I respect all the music talents. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are never stubborn about the music. They're positive in their attitude and very open suggestion to ideas."

Karan smiles when he remembers the process of music creation. "We went to Goa to create the songs of KANK. We were there for ten days. It was more like a holiday than work. I've never seen three creative people more in-sync."