For Jagmohan Mundhra, who has been shooting the Aishwarya Rai film "Provoked" in London, it was touch and go when the director suddenly had to be hospitalised.

According to reports reaching back home, shooting had to be cancelled for three days and producer Murli Mohan had to supervise the last part of the closing schedule.

The rumour back home was alarming. But Mundhra clarified: "No, I didn't suffer a heart attack. It was a condition called gastro-angio-dysplasia. I had internal bleeding going on for some time without my realising it.

"On Wednesday, I was shooting when my wife noticed how pale I was looking. She immediately called for an ambulance, and I was rushed to the hospital where the doctors apprised me of my condition.

"I realised I had lost a lot of blood. I was put in ICU where I remained for three days. Since I've a history of a heart condition, people presumed the worst. I didn't suffer a heart attack. But, yes, I was unable to shoot for three days. And since this disruption took place right at the end of our shooting schedule, we had a hard time managing.

"Fortunately, work with Aishwarya Rai was over. And Nandita Das, who's a personal friend, understood my predicament. We managed to complete the entire schedule without any losses," sighs Mundhra.

He went back to shooting the minute he could.

"It's been a pretty hectic 40-day, one-stretch schedule with no respite at all. Sometime we filmmakers forget to exercise restraint, forget that the body requires to slow down.

"On the brighter side I must say I'm very happy with the kind of media attention that 'Provoked' is getting. It's shaped up into quite a hard-hitting drama. I'd say it takes me back to my roots... to 'Kamla' and 'Bawandar', and beyond."

Pausing for breath, Mundhra says: "You know critics in India have given me a certain kind of reputation as a filmmaker which I don't deserve. When erotic films feature big Hollywood names, they are considered respectable.

"Just because my films didn't have Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, I was labelled a sleaze maker...

"After coming back from hospital, I've realised the value of what I've. Today my technique and craft as a storyteller are at a high ebb. How critics and audiences perceive the content of my cinema is entirely up to them.

"Having Ash in 'Provoked' has helped put my craft and art into a perspective. I'm confident this film will put her on the world map when it opens in November all over the world, including India.

"But right now I'm taking a break. I need it desperately."