Actor Aamir Khan hit out at director Mahesh Bhatt at a press conference held recently to launch the book The Spirit Of Lagaan. It was a retort to what Mahesh Bhatt had said on national television during the pre-Oscar campaign in the US. The director had remarked that lobbying for an award in this fashion is similar to groveling before the whites. The filmmaker also cast aspersions on the credibility of such lobbying. Aamir Khan said that he felt unhappy about Bhatt`s negative mindset. "Whether the American`s were pink, white, blue or green was immaterial, my only aim was to ensure that they see my film," he said.

He added, "Could I have told the Film Federation Of India who officially chose Lagaan for the Oscars, please don`t select my film as I don`t want to show it to the people there just because they are white?" As for the insinuation that there was dishonest element in the Oscars, Aamir Khan replied matter-of-factly that they only got the jury members to see the film. "We did not pay them cash," he said.