'Mahesh Bhatt is a far better writer than director'

Mahesh Bhatt recently turned author with The Taste of Life: The Last Days of UG Krishnamurti. Bhatt was a longtime friend of the eminent thinker and philosopher, who was lovingly called UG.

"This is a glorious moment for me. I have been able to put across to the people close to me and others what UG Krishnamurti meant to me," Bhatt said at the book launch in Mumbai.

The book is about the last days of the self-proclaimed guru's life in Italy, who died in March 2007. The book recounts day-to-day details leading upto his death.

Bhatt said seeing his mentor die in front of him was painful. "UG knew nobody else could have seen him die. He knew I was the only one who could cremate him. People will perhaps get to see a dimension of me that was submerged for quite some time. They can see a completely unleashed Mahesh Bhatt emotion," he said.

When asked what inspired him to write a book on his mentor, he replied, "I got the inspiration from UG Krishnamurti. I couldn't have asked for better inspiration than that."

Also present at the event was his daughter Pooja, her husband Munesh Makhija, and friends Anupam Kher, his wife Kirron, Emraan Hashmi, Mohit Suri and Kunal Deshmukh.

Pooja Bhatt spoke about her father's new avatar, and her upcoming film, Kajraa Re, starring Himesh Reshammiya.

What do you think of your father's book?

I didn't know Mahesh Bhatt had this side to him. With this book, he has done exactly what UG didn't want him to do -- made him [UG] God.

Can we expect a film inspired by this book?

He is not interested in making a film on it. He made it very clear in 1999, when he hung his boots after Zakhm, that he doesn't want to direct films ever again.

He wanted to give opportunities to people like me, Mohit Suri and Kunal Deshmukh. As a daughter, I knew what kind of effect UG had on Mahesh. I do believe that there is a film left in him and that is A Taste of Life.

Unfortunately, we're in a time where people read less. It will be a shame if this book is read by only a selected group of people.

What do you think your dad is better at -- writing or directing?

I believe that Mahesh Bhatt is far better writer than a director. He has the ability to not only experience but also articulate it and that is a gift. It takes courage to be able to spill out your heart in a book.

Your film Kajraa Re is in production now. There are reports that the film is a remake of Sadak.

We will release Kajraa Re on October 16. It's not a remake of Sadak. If it was a remake, we would have happily said so, as we would get better branding.

Kajraa Re is the story about a Pakistani girl and an Indian popstar, based in the UK. The girl is born and brought up in the red light areas of Pakistan and has been in the profession all her life. While the boy wants to escape his past, the girl wants to escape her future.

When will we see you act again?

I haven't left acting, which is my first love. I think I am India's youngest producer. I started off as an actor, then a producer and finally a director. People think that acting has taken a backseat but if I am offered a good script, I would happily do it.

What can you tell us about Himesh Reshammiya?

Himesh's look in Kajraa Re is not different. Since we started shooting immediately after Karzzzz, I had to maintain the same look.

As a director, I love my actors and always make sure they stand out -- be it Bipasha Basu-John Abraham in Jism, Udita Goswami in Paap or Himesh in Kajraa Re. Even people who are averse to Himesh will like him in Kajraa Re. I don't think there can be a better compliment than this.

We gave him a role keeping his strengths and weaknesses in mind. We knew what we were casting him for. He is a smart man and that is why he is where he is now. He surrendered to me completely for which I am grateful.

What about the heroine Mona Liazza?

Only Mona could have played the role. She was perfect. If we had someone from India, the performance may not have been so good. We couldn't have got someone from India to play a Pakistani.

Anupam Kher was left teary-eyed after Mahesh Bhatt read out excerpts from his book. "This is a very rare love story. What UG was to Mahesh, Mahesh is to me," he tells us.

He showed us a copy of the book, which Bhatt had autographed for him. It read: 'Anupam, you have the power to stand alone.'

"I get very moved by unadulterated feelings," Kher said. "Bhattsaab not only gave me a career graph but also a philosophy of life. He has been like a father to me. Through Saaransh, he gave a lead on how to lead a life."

So what is his taste of life? "Taste of life for me is pungent, bitter and sweet. It has all the navratas (nine ingredients)," he signs off.