At a time when the directors venture into documentaries and art films for a change from the mainstream, here's someone who has done things the other way round.

Kabir Khan, the director of ‘Kabul Express', first made documentaries and is now engrossed with commercial cinema that also talks of life and attitude. Here Kabir talks about his documentaries and his association with Yash Raj Films.

Q: Now that ‘Kabul Express' has got so much acclaim, what next for you?
A: I have two more movies with Yash Raj Films and I am presently working on the other two scripts. They are real exciting ideas but I can't talk much about anything as of now, because there are still no concrete plans.

Q: Your first documentary was at the young age of 24. Was it a coincidence or a planned effort?
A: I always wanted to make documentaries as I loved the idea of presenting things just the way they are in reality. It is truly fascinating to record things in their true nature without tampering any fact or figure. I got into a film-making school for that and completed my masters in film-making from there.

Q: How did your family react to this decision?
A: They were very supportive. They never ever put any pressure on me. In fact, my dad, who is a professor, has helped me in my research work for my earlier assignments.

Q: Which was the first assignment in your career?
A: I worked as a freelancer after studying at the film-making school. And for my first assignment, I traveled across many erstwhile states of the USSR. One of my most fascinating assignments was for the Discovery channel- Beyond the Himalayas.

The best part of that project was that I traveled across the Himalayas for nearly three months. It was a very good experience and that too, in such an early phase of my career. I traveled to the Middle-East for another assignment wherein I conceived the idea of ‘Kabul Express'.

Q: Both you and your wife Mini Mathur are professionals. So how do you manage your time and look after your three-year-old child?
A: Actually, we manage our time pretty well. Knowing that we have to look after Vivaan, both Mini and I don't take assignments where we have to devote half of our day or where both of us will have to be away from him at the same time.

Q: Is Vivaan showing any signs of taking either yours or his mom's legacy ahead?
A: (With a shy smile) Vivaan is just three years old. It is very early to see any signs regarding his future. But when he grows up he is always free to choose his area of interest. Just like I love making documentaries, he too should do what he loves.

Q: Which is the present crop of movies that you have liked the most?
A: To actually rate one movie as the best is impossible. Every movie has one aspect better than the other. I liked Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Deewar and many others. But if I were to take one name I think Sholay is the best. Everything in the movie was in place. No character or sequence seems out of place or even unwanted. It is a master piece.

Q: And this master piece will have two remakes now....
A: I think, out of the two remakes I would love to watch Ram Gopal Varma Kay Sholay for sure. He has changed the original to an urban setting. As for the Bhojpuri one, I don't think I will take the pains to go and watch. What strikes my mind is why the Hindi Sholay remake bears Ramu's name. I am quite sure doing so doesn't matter much. Maybe Ramu did this for publicity.

Q: But would you too go for a remake?
A: I won't say never, but at least I will not make one now. I have just started out and there are lots of ideas that can come out of me. Just like how Kabul Express was conceived, there maybe some other movies too. I will always draw experiences from life and use them in my documentaries.

Q: Are you planning to make any more documentaries?
A: I have my own production house for TV. Since I was busy with Kabul Express I didn't have much time for it. But now talks are on with many TV channels. I have contracts for three films with Yash Raj Films. Of which, the first film Kabul Express is out.

Q: Once this contract is over whom would you love to work with?
A: Frankly speaking, I have loved working with Yash Raj Films. My experience during the making of Kabul Express was very good. So I would love to work with them again and again. Moreover, when I have the best in the industry why would I go somewhere else?

- Sneha Hazarika (SAMPURN)