Balki, comes to cinema from the ad world. Here he speaks to Subhash K Jha about Paa... Your film Paa features Mr Bachchan as a 12-year old child suffering from Progeria. What made you think of such an audacious casting coup?
I didn't think of progeria first. I was in a meeting with Amitji and in walked Abhishek to talk to his dad. He was in a rare serious mood and Amitji was joking away. I thought to myself that in a previous birth Amitji must have been Abhishek's son.

The thought lingered and it crossed my mind that it might be interesting to reverse their roles. I had no clue how to till I went on the search for a possible medical miracle. I found it in a casual conversation with a friend who then introduced me to a friend of his... a doctor... after that... google zindabad!

You also decided to feature Abhishek Bachchan as his own father's father? Wasn't there a danger of the whole affair being perceived as gimmicky?
No I was sure it wouldn't be gimmicky because i was sure that i didn't want Amitabh to be Amitabh in this film. If people thought of Amitabh, then it would be. But not if it never crossed their minds after the initial curiosity before they walked into the theatre. In the film, Abhishek plays Auro's dad.

Paa is about a child suffering from progeria. And yet why do you insist progeria is not an issue in your film? Surely a rare disease being filmed means the diseases is being spotlighted?
The film is not a treatise or a documentary on progeria. Progeria happens to be a condition that Auro suffers from. But the film is about Auro and his parents. The story of a boy who brings his parents together. Simple.

Is there a fear that the progeric theme in the film would become a rallying point for various organizations and deflect attention from the film per se?
No. The progeria research foundation loves the film. It believes it is very sensitively handled and believes that only stories such as these will increase awareness. Many paediatricians have recommended this film hugely. The review of my fil, by a leading paediatrician in Pune. Was truly touched.

You pushed the envelope for Mr Bachchan in your first film Cheeni Kum by making him play a 60-plus character in love with a 30-year old woman. Now in Paa he's a 12-year old ailing boy. Are these challenges that you throw consciously at yourself and Mr Bachchan?
Amitji is bigger than a star or actor. He is a character. Not many stars achieve this status in their lifetime. He is a character bigger than any character he portrays.

In Cheeni Kum i believed that true justice can be done only if Amitabh Bachchan played what i thought was him...'the character called Amitabh Bachchan'.. And it worked because people loved him instantly.

In Paa i went against my core belief and tried to make Amitabh Bachchan everything Amitabh Bachchan never was. I tried creating a character that could be as loved as Amitabh bachchan. That's Auro! People love it too. Moral of the story... people love Amitabh bachchan even if they can't see him.

Is Mr Bachchan going to be in all your films?
I hope he wants to do a film with me again. And i hope i can continue having ideas that do justice to him.

A lot of filmmakers are making that leap from the ad world to feature fiilms. How difficult was it for you?
Ads and films are the same thing. Both are based on ideas. One takes longer to execute than the other. And i didn't make any transition. Am still in advertising. I am doing very conventional films. I just speak like we are in 2010.

You've a wonderful way with directing kids, even a 67-year old one. How difficult is to tell kids what to do on camera?
I don't know kids at all. I write imagining how i would react in that situation or as a kid... actually how i would like to react...

Paa indulges in a lot of irrelevant media-bashing. Why did you bring that element into a film about a special child's relationship with his parents?
I have wonderful friends in the media. So it wasn't media bashing... but am very intrigued about the possibilities and struggles a good politician will face in this world as the media always starts with 'politicians are guilty unless they are proved innocent'... And i needed this for Abhishek's character... to come through strongly.

Would you consider making an out-and-out fantasy?
I want to make an out and out masala film with a twist. Otherwise what's the point?

Who among your contemporaries and predecessors do you admire?
I love karan Johar's films. All of them. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kal Ho Na Ho, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I freaked out on on many parts of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna too! I loved Aditya chopra's Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. I love some of Cheran's and Bala's work in Tamil. I loved Dostana. I loved Wake Up Sid. I loved Jab We Met. I freaked out on Wednesday. I watch all films.