/> Barely a month before the release of his first independent production Gandhi My Father the controversies surrounding the humanization of the Mahatma have started hounding the film from Gandhians all over the country.

Would the world accept Gandhi's son as a rebellious renegade who converted to Islam just to get even with his father.

Anil is unruffled. "As far as I'm concerned the film has been cleared by the censor board with a 'U' certificate without cuts. We're releasing on August 3. We've shown the film to many Gandhians and Gandhiji's relatives including his grandson Tushar Gandhi. He had the highest praise for our film.

I didn't make this film because I suddenly got interested in politics. I saw Gandhi My Father as a great father-son story. And the minute I heard about it I wanted to do it. And the fact that the father was the Father Of The Nation put this subject notches above the rut."

Anil is bowled over by his director Feroz Abbas Khan's meticulousness. "I've worked with many kinds of directors. But Feroz is a rare human being and artiste. His talent has been a revelation. As a producer I've just Feroz have his say and done my best to stand by the project."

The story of the troubled relationship between Gandhi and his son Harilal has gone through several hands beginning with Joy Augustine. Even the mighty Sanjay Leela Bhansali was very keen to do the theme.

"Yes I'm aware of Sanjay Bhansali's interest in the project. But Feroz and I have been interacting for the last 10-12 years ago. In fact at one time Feroz was going to direct me in a film.

However once I decided to produce the Gandhi film there was no question of facing he camera for Feroz. I can't be both producer and actor. It's too tough a job for me at this point. Besides I wasn't right to play either Harilal or Gandhiji."

Is that because Anil is too old to play the son and too young to play the father? "Ha! Says who? Nowadays 40-year old actors are playing college students and romancing 20- year olds. So I could've easily played Harilal, if I wanted. I just had to be a little more narcisstic about it."

Anil says the fear of controversies couldn't have kept him off the Gandhi project. "I come from a family of fearless filmmakers. When I worked with Mani Ratnam, Vinod Chopra and Shekhar Kapoor they were not the names that they later became. I chose them on the basis of the script. I've the same gut feeling about Feroz. He'll make a very special niche for himself."