Director Shekhar Kapur talks to Shilpa Jamkhandikar about his forthcoming projects and  confirms that he won't be making a film on Nelson Mandela

For somebody who has the luxury of making a choice of any movie he wants to make, Shekhar Kapur comes across as one adamant man.

“I have been getting a lot of offers from Hollywood for films, but the one film I want to make is Paani, a project of mine that has been delayed for quite a lot of time,” said the director about his forthcoming project.

The director has already started finalising shoot locations for Paani.

“Right now I am scouting for locations in Mumbai for the same, but the problem is that the person who will design the film is in LA. So I am just filming the entire city of Mumbai, so that I can send it to him after which he can start designing the film,” he added.

Does that mean Paani will be his next film? “I am not saying that it will be, because there are quite a few offers that I may have to take up. But if someone told me tomorrow that you will get to make only one film and that will be the end of it, I will make Paani. It’s a film that is very close to my heart, and I want to see it made,” he adds.

In Mumbai right now, Shekhar and says he enjoys being bossed around by daughter Kaaveri.

“I am spending a lot of time in Mumbai with her, and she enjoys bossing me around. You know, it’s funny, but I never take kindly to anyone dominating me. But with her, I enjoy it to no end,” he said with a smile.

Other than playing the doting father, Kapur is also glad that his film Elizabeth the Golden Age, has been so well received, and even garnered an Oscar.

“I always do films that pose challenges. It drives me when people say this can’t be done. That was exactly what happened with all my films,” Shekhar said.

He is also firm that the much touted Nelson Mandela biopic announced some time back is not happening.

“The film may happen, but not with me. Whenever I make a film on a personality, I like to go behind the persona, and go into the mind of the person. The makers of this film did not want that, and I am not the one to compromise,” he concludes.