Aks for cult status?

Lata Khubchandani

The Amitabh Bachchan-Manoj Bajpai-Nandita Das starrer Aks ventured into uncharted waters when it released in August 2001 with a subject that dealt with the supernatural.

But despite its starcast and the novel story, the film faltered at the box office turned out a big disappointment.

Director Rakesh Mehra, however, has no regrets. And nine months after the film released, he suddenly finds himself in the midst of revived interest in the film. He says, "India Today [a news magazine] called and said Aks had gained cult status. I didn't know what that meant. Then I received an e-mail message from South Africa, nine months after Aks' release, saying, 'Thank you for giving us Aks. We understand the first time you may have failed to get BO response. But if you persevere, you will succeed."

"A radio channel from South Africa also featured a half-hour interview about the film. I got a call from Los Angeles the other day and they told me how they discussed the merits and drawbacks of the film. One person liked Aks so much that he came to me out of the blue and said that he want to write a book on my film.

" 'Who'd want to read it?,' I asked. And he said that he just want to explore why Aks was so unforgettable. The book is being written by a journalist who has requested anonymity till he has something to show," Mehra continues.

"On my part, there is a feeling of emptiness that all this has come so long after the film's release. It would have been great fun if we had sailed through the box office. It would be very dishonest to say that I didn't have dollar signs in my eyes."