*Bollywood not sole representative of Indian cinema: Mahesh Bhatt* Dubai (PTI): Bollywood cannot be the sole representative of Indian cinema as regional film industries in the country have equal amount of quality and talent, veteran producer-director Mahesh Bhatt has said.
"The arrogance of Bollywood to be representative of Indian cinema is bogus," Bhatt said citing his conversations with legendary south Indian actor Sivaji Ganesan. "He (Ganesan) once asked me why isn't there the image of a South Indian star occupying as much space? This was a few years ago but that lament is valid," he recalled. "If one A R Rahman has made us proud on the international arena there are hundreds like that," he added. In an interview to PTI, Bhatt, who is in Dubai with his daughter Pooja Bhatt for the shooting of 'Kajra Re', said the popular idiom of Hindi cinema has finally found takers all over the world and there has also been a shift in the gaze of the government towards cinema. "It is seen as soft power and cultural asset and is also a political tool which has had tremendous impact in the neighbourhood such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and even in African countries," he said. However, he also admitted that the Indian cinema is now on its knees in terms of content because it is catering to the lowest common denominator of the affluent. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200907012240.htm -- regards, Vithur
