by Subhash K Jha
"Enough dark brooding chamber pieces. My last two releases Raincoat and Antar Mahal go into a dark territory. Even my new Bengali film Dosar which is ready for release is a black-and-white brooding work. Now I want to loosen up, be happy, make a bright young film."

He has slso completed shooting another Bengali film Khela. Ritu and his leading lady Manisha Koirala seem to have struck up another unputdownable friendship, just like Ritu and Ash. "Manisha is so lovely and such a wonderful actress," Ritu can't enough of his leading lady.

He was slated to start a marital drama with Bipasha Basu and his favourite leading man Prosenjit.

"But I've abandoned that idea. In my new film a child Akash Neel plays the lead."

Manisha Koirala and Presanjit play the child's parents.

"It was just a 7-day role for Manisha. I'm excited about working with her. She was supposed to be part of Antar Mahal (in the role played by Roopa Ganguly). But that didn't work out. Manisha is an extremely talented and beautiful actress. It's a pity she doesn't take herself more seriously," tut-tuts Ritu.

His old favourites Roopa Ganguly and Raima Sen also star Khela.

"Raima plays a costume designer. Yes, the film is partially set in the film industry. Prosenjit plays a filmmaker. What really excites me is the fact that this would be my first film to be shot outdoors after my first my Titli. And I haven't really worked with a child in a central role."

Does he have problems directing the boy?

"Not at all. If he kicks me, I kick him back. If Akash is a brat I'm a bigger brat. I really enjoyed directing Khela. It's frothy fun get-happy film. After a long time I feel I'm doing a film that I can call a party."