Ashok Kumar of Expressindia.com talks has a one to one talk with the acclaimed actor-filmmaker.

How do you see your association with Osian’s?

Well it’s been quite a fruitful journey for me to be associated with the Osian’s Cinefest film festival. I remember coming to the first Osian’s with my film Rockford. It’s heartening to note that the festival has grown significantly over the years. It’s amazing to see that a so many people participate in such festivals.

To what extent can film fests like this (Osian’s) provide an opportunity to the beginners in art of filmmaking?

I had gone to a handful of fests before starting my career. Any platform that you get to showcase your work gives you that required push needed at the break of the career.

You are one of the jury members for the First Features Competition (at Osian’s fest)? How does it feel to judge a movie?

Well, it feels good! But I can closely relate myself to the feeling a film director experiences when his or her film is being judged. I have been here before and gone through the similar feeling and one thing I hate is my films being judged.

As a director who do you think is the better judge of the movie… audience or the box office?

(Smiles) No distinction can be made as such of the two ‘parameters’. We (filmmakers) make movies to work at the box office. If it does not work there we get disappointed.

Why in your opinion the audience is not accepting the contemporary cinema with the expected promptness?

I don’t think audiences should be blamed for giving a cold shoulder to contemporary film. I personally feel as long as film festivals to showcase such movies and filmmakers continue with their efforts, audience will certainly turn out to appreciate the same.