/> In a candid conversation from the US, Vice-Chairman of Columbia-Tristar Gareth Wigan who supervises non-American films on behalf of his company Sony Pictures says he's extremely proud of their first Indian film.

"We're very proud of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya. It's earned a lot of money. We're delighted to have made this film. The profits haven't been outstanding. The film was made at around 8 million US dollars.

We sold nearly 20 million dollars worth of tickets. Plus the television, DVD rights and merchandise."

Wigan seemed unsure of how much Saawariya was affected by the adverse review in a section of the Mumbai press.

"I'm not sure how much Indan audiences pay attention to the critics. I think it's very easy when a film performs less well than we hoped to look for a culprit. When a film doesn't do as well as expected the marketing and movie people blame each other."

In the last ten years Columbia-Tristar and it sibling company Sony Pictures have made movies in twelve different countries. "In some countries we've succeeded with our first film. In others we haven't. There're no textbook rules on how to make films. Films come out of a passion of the heart."

The company is in negotiation with several major Indian filmmakers. "We look forward to making more films with Sanjay Bhansali and other filmmakers in India.Two years ago we knew nothing about filmmaking in India. Today we know more. We'll never stop learning."

Wigan reiterates there's no disappointment over Saawariya. "I personally feel more experienced after Saawariya. Many people in the popular media were looking at Saawariya.

If it had been a huge success they'd have seen it as the success of Hollywood. Now having judged the boxofffice performance of Saawariya incorrectly they say, Hollywood failed. We did neither.

We certainly didn't fail with Saawariya. Nor was it a a huge triumph. We'll continue making films in India as planned."

As for the suspicion that a major foreign company elicits in the Indian business circes Gareth Wigan is confident about finding a place for Sony Pictures. "The film industry in India is highly successful.

And we want to become part of it. I think we'll be accepted. Yes,there will be a slight rivalry with other production houses. That's healthy. We don't hope for or expect any enmity."