by Subhash K Jha

According to its director Sanjay Gupta Zinda could be the darkest and most violent film ever made in Hindi.

"But the response has been pretty much overwhelming. Thank God we weren't made the bali ka bakra at Eid," Gupta chortles heartily.

He has reason to be happy. Zinda has got above-average reviews. "Sanjay Dutt's performance has brought him back where he deserves to be. As for John, people are for the first time sitting up and saying, this guy can really act. With the other release Family being a no-show at the boxoffice, and Rang De Basanti being postponed(due to the problems with the defence forces) I've a clear two weeks on my hand to let the film grow."

Gupta is currently touring several cities with Zinda accompanied by his two stars Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham. "And frankly, we can't believe the kind of response we've got in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and now Chandigarh," Gupta exclaims from Chandigarh.

"Considering there's no conventional naach-gana in my film, no hero-hero doing lovey-dovey things to the heroine, I'm amazed. The film is booked till Tuesday at every center. It's probably going to be the biggest since Garam Masala ."

The triumph in Gupta's voice is palpable. "Critics have always accused me of being ahead of the times. About Zinda one trade expert told me I've made a film that's ten years ahead . But if making a film of today means making a No Entry I'd rather not be with the times."

Gupta moves to Ahmedabad next to promote his dark and sinister film . He can't seem to get over the audiences' response. "Family has the cream of the crop...Zinda was supposed to be the odd one out. But we seem to have marched ahead."