/> Often billed the only female superstar of Hindi cinema, Hema Malini has never had an introspective of her works in any part of the world.

Laughingly she brushes off the scarcity of recognition and honours in her unprecedented decade-long reign as the boxoffice queen. "I guess when I was busy working I was just busy. I never thought of the awards and rewards. Now when I look back I do feel there weren't too many occasions for my work to be reviewed."

That's precisely why Hema Malini is rather tickled by the retrospective of her films planned for the Bangkok International Film Festival from 19 July.

"They want to screen some of my best works. I'd like them to screen Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Lal Patthar, Khushboo, Premnagar, Ek Chadar Maili Si, Meera, Dulhan... The problem is, they don't want DVD copies for the festival screening. They require prints, and that too with subtitles."

I remind her that last year it was impossible for Mr Bachchan to obtain Sholay and some of his other films for a retrospective in the US.

Hema has decided to take personal interest in getting the prints organized for the Bangkok festival. "It isn't everyday that one gets a chance like this. Since this is my first time at any festival I'd like it to be a comprehensive retrospective of my films.

Although my hands are full with my political and cultural activities, and I've two daughters to look after, I want to give myself the luxury of enjoying this recognition."