by Subhash K Jha

"I never imagined it would go so far," said Anupam Kher when contacted about his film Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara triumphing at the small but prestigious Riverside International Film Festival in California which concluded on Feb 26.

Kher's production directed by Jahnu Barua has won the awards for best film and best actor.

"I've just been informed about this," Kher said from near London where he's shooting for Dharmesh Darshan's Aap Ki Khatir.

"I wish I had been there. But unfortunately because of my shooting here I couldn't. My loss entirely. I'm happy that my performance has been recognized at the Riverside festival."

But I'm happier that the film has been recognized. Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara is such an Indian film in theme, characters and treatment. That international audiences in Karachi or California can actually empathize with the film's Gandhian philosophy is amazing."

Incidentally Rohan Sippy's Bluff Master and Pradeep Sarkar's Parineeta were also at the Riverside festival.