/> The first thing that Sudhir Mishra realized on meeting up with his former wife as director-actress in Khoya Khoya Chand (KKC) is that Sushmita Mukherjee still has a great sense of humour.

"In fact one of the big things that attracted me to her to begin with was her laughter and humour. Those still remain intact. Sushmita still makes me laugh. And one of the pleasures of working with my former wife was the joy of laughter that I experienced all over again."

Sushmita plays a fading doddering actress in the 1950s. "Someone like Nadira, a vamp of yesteryears whose home provides a meeting- point for the lovers in my film.

You know in those days film people couldn't meet in hotels, etc...Sushmita is superb. It's a pity our cinema hasn't found the right place for her comic aptitudes. The last time I worked with her was my first film Yeh Who Manzil To Nahin in 1987.I wish I worked with her more often."

Then Sudhir makes a startling confession. "Today I wish we had never got married. We'd have made wonderful friends, though we were not compatible as man and wife."

What went wrong in their marriage?

Sudhir ponders, "She's wonderful person.Happily remarried and with two lovely children. I remember when we went for a divorce we laughed so much together, and I had my hand on her shoulder.... the judge refused to grant us a divorce and told us to come back after six months. Believe me, this isn't a made-up story."

Lots of pleasant mellow memories spill out of Sudhir as he prepares for Khoya Khoya Chand. "I admit I was nervous. At the premiere lots of people whose opinion matters like Javed and Shabana, and Vinod Chopra loved the film.

The film does go into the 1950s. But it isn't a case study of those times. It's a vivacious story that happens to be set in those time. And really, the comparisons with Guru Dutt are apt but they don't tell the full truth about my film.

If a parallel has to be found to my film it'd have to be something as underrated as Sridhar's Dil Ek Mandir which came around the middle of the 1960s."

Coming back to Sushmita, Sudhir says, "When I wrote the role I immediately thought of Sushmita. To my surprise even my casting director wanted her. I'm so glad I worked with her. In-between I'd bump into her occasionally and exchange warm vibes. I wish we'd have never got married, just remained friends."