After winning accolades for his performance in A Wednesday, Naseeruddin Shah is now all set to get an encore for his sterling performance in Raja Menon's maiden venture as a director-Barah Aana.

"The reason I decided to take up the role that Raja Menon offered me in his debut film Barah Aana is that it had no dialogue for me.

I had to make sure that my veins in the neck bulge in most part of the film", stated Naseeruddin Shah when I met him for this interview at the recently concluded Pune International Film Festival where Barah Aana was screened.

I ask Naseer about the relevamnce of the title Barah Aana. He shoots abck. "The title Barah Aana was discussed at length at the time of the rehearsals for the film. I belong to the generation which could easily identify with the title Barah Aana. I always feel that the title of a film should intrigue you enough to prod you to watch the film".

What is the criterion on which you agree to do a film? I ask Naseeruddin Shah. He shoots back, "It is primarily on instinct that I decide which project I should do.

I have made mistakes on that count too, because no actor can get an accurate idea of what kind of a film it would eventually turn out to be. Some of the wonderful films which I have acted in have turned out to be wretched and also vice versa".

Naseeruddin Shah had actually ushered in the era of parallel cinema way back in the 70's. Talking about what went wrong with the parallel cinema, Naseer quips frankly, "The biggest tragedy of the parallel cinema was that star system was created even there though it was supposed to being about a refreshing change from the then existing star system".

Naseeruddin is very forthright when he talks about the young filmmakers today. "The young film makers today are more advanced craft-wise. They are also very confident about their craft, especially because they are working with actors who have been facing the camera ever since they were born".

Naseer chuckles. "Unlike the new generation of filmmakers who come very well prepared with the craft, as a kid, even taking a photograph was considered something which was very adventurous.

I only hope that they do not get carried away with realistic clichés. The best thing about filmmakers today is that they do not talk of cerebral things like the filmmakers of yesteryear but deal with contemporary issues".

Naseer feels that what has helped the new filmmakers is the fact that there has been a tremendous evolution in spoken language in cinema, Naseer explains.

"It sounded wrong and unnatural when actors in Hindi cinema spoke in chaste Hindi way back in 70's, because no language is spoken in its purity in big cities. I am happy that the young generation of film makers like Raja Menon who has made Barah Asana find roles for me.

I am glad that I am not yet redundant after having worked in films for the last 33 years".

Barah Aana, according to Naseeruddin, has a lot in common with A Wednesday though both address contemporary issues. "Both the films talk of life today as it is without setting out to beautify it into a larger than life fantasy to appease the lowest common denominator".

To his credit, Naseeruddin is perhaps the only actor who has acted with the maximum number of first time directors."No other actor in the world must have acted with so many first time directors like I have done.

Frankly I have not regretted acting with even one first time director though I have regretted having acted with quite a few veteran directors. The reason is that the hunger of a first time filmmaker is greater before he tastes success. It has been a learning experience working with all first time directors including Raja Menon".

Interesting though it may seem, Naseer confesses that though he has had his own share of song and dance sequences in films like Oye Oye in Tridev and Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast in Mohra, he does not like song and dance sequences in Bollywood. However he hastens to add that he enjoyed watching Om Shanti Om because it was a great film coming from a person who loves mainstream Hindi cinema.

Before we wind up the interview, I ask Naseer why he has not come up with another film as a director after Yun Hotra To Kya Hota. Without batting his eye-lids, he unwinds.

"When I look back and watch my debut film as a director, I feel it was appallingly incompetent in some sequences. One has to face the fact.

Pleasing your producer and going through the heart break of pouring your heart to a distributor is something I could not come to terms with as a director. Given the choice, I'd prefer directing on the stage than directing a film".