/> Karan Johar has discovered a new vocation for himself. The role of Bollywood ambassador suits him just fine.

Says Karan, "I've always said I'm a people's person. And to be able to talk about our cinema with audiences abroad is an experience I hold close to my heart."

Karan Kohar in New York, is ecstatic about the response he got while addressing business-management alumni at Wharton University.

"They were all clued into our cinema, and amazingly interactive. Most of their questions were about this year's two reformist films Rang De Basanti and Lage Raho Munnabhai. These two films have completely changed western perceptions of our cinema.

From being a song-and-dance oddity we're now looked at as purveyors of a cinema with serious stimulating ideas put together in a palatable style.

Earlier, in the 1950s we had the socially relevant cinema of Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt like Awara, Sri 420 and Pyasa. But then the movement petered out. I believe Rang De Basanti and Lage Raho ... have revived the influence of reformist cinema not just in India but in the West. "

Karan sees Munnabhai as reviving interest in Gandhism in the Western world. "Mahatma Gandhi was always our father-figure. But somewhere his significance had been lost to the younger generation. While at Wharton I was amazed by the interest in Gandhian thought.I was repeatedly questioned on how much Raj Kumar Hirani's film reflected the wider social reality."

Karan was also asked about the urban Indian marriage as shown in his film Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. "They wanted to know how I could make the film that I did with stars with established images. I think it's simply amazing how much interest America has in our cinema."

Karan now goes straight from New York to Delhi to attend a media forum. He has also taken the time off to crystallize an idea for his next movie. "All I can say is, it will have a title beginning with 'K'. No matter how much things change for us in Indian cinema, some things remain the same."