The father in Fanatic is a truly liberated man, a man of the world. A person of his thinking can adjust in any part of the world because he has no hang-ups, no complexes.
I had first refused the play East Is East. To be honest, I said 'yaar, I have just started making some money because earlier I was only doing art cinema which had absolutely no money. I can't afford to be there for six months.'
Then when they made the film, they got in touch with me again. They said, listen this time, we just want you and I said yeah, sure.
On being the face of Indian cinema in the West
East Is East was the high point. Recognition had started in 1991 with the City Of Joy but for East Is East I was nominated for BAFTA and London Film Critics Award. It was a great feeling. You are being recognised as one of the five best performers of the world! I feel whoever is nominated whether for Oscars or BAFTA is almost equal to the winner. Like they say -- unees-bees ka farak hai.
Kevin Spacey gave a wonderful performance [American Beauty], he is a great actor. He deserved what he got but the other four who were nominated were close.
Om Puri with Rachel Griffiths in My Son The Fanatic