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The Ismail Merchant Chat

Ro: Well Shashi Kapoor has done very well and I'm sure with the right part and the right film there will be a great success for an Indian actor. Time is very near when taleneted Indian actors will be introduced in Holywood films and will have the oportunity of becoming international stars.

Chanaveera: Success and failures are part of the cinema some you win some you lose. But Jefferson in Paris is a beautiful film and one of our best .

A Parthasarthy: Well its not quite true we have disagreements but in any creative work you must have two views . We both have different personalities but we are dedicated to making good films .

Ismail, what are you up to these days? What is the big deal about direction? First In Custody, then the Moreau project. When did the direction bug bite you?

Come on, Ismail. You are supposed to be so bloody charming. Your responses read as if some middle America pr hack churned it out for you.

How do you con the biggest names in hollywood to work in your films so cheaply?

Why haven't you used an Indian actor in your films? Naseeruddin Shah, for instance.

Have you never had a spat in Hollywood? Never experienced racism?

Are you a good Muslim? Are you religious? Do you still consider yourself an Indian?

Don't you, James Ivory and Ruth Jhabvala begin to get on each other's nerves after all these years? How do you sustain your working relationship?

Sparky: Well the deal with Disney is on and we are going to make number of films for them the success in Holywood for MIP is because we have shown that small budget films can be successful .Critically and commercially , our films speak a very special language , a language of emotion with heart and intelligence .

A P Kamath: Al actors would like to work in a good film and if the part is interesting and challenging an actor will reduce his salary to be in a decent film. We are no exceptions Robert Altman alos attracts actors or stars who reduce their salaries according to his budget . It was a great pleasure working with Jeanne Moreau and other wonderful actors like Sean Young , Sam Waterston , and Mel Carter. They are perfectly happy to work with a director who has vision whether you are Indian Chinese or Korean it is the talent that attracts them,.

This is the first time one of Vidia Naipaul's books will be filmed. Will you be collaborating with Sir Vidia? How did he agree to your making the film? Will it be shot in Trinidad?

Hello there Mr. Merchant, sorry I'm a little late. I'd really like to know a little bit about who YOU are, do you think a part of your presonality is reflected in the films you make..in one way or another?

Chaplin: We have respect for each others talent we come from three different continents , I'm an Indian Ruth Jhabwala is an Europeana and James Ivory is an American . And we have lived all three continents for the past forty-five years and we share and understand the culture of the three continents .

Mr Merchant, I'm surprised that you think Jefferson In Paris is one of your best. Isn't that somewhat like overcompensating by loving an ugly child more. Jefferson in Paris was TERRIBLE. Unfortunately, Greta Scacchi never seems to have been able to get beyond that single plastic look on screen!

You started off as a director. When did you and James Ivory decide that you would produce and he would direct? What is the best thing you like about Mr Ivory? Do you think he is in the same league as Bob Altman?

Your early films like Householder and Shakespearewallah were sweet but simplistic and naive. Your recent films, however, are unrecognisably sophisticated in comparison. What do you think were the turning points in the evolution of your style?

Ismail, what are you up to these days? What is the big deal about direction? First In Custody, then the Moreau project. When did the direction bug bite you?

What is the most satisfying film James Ivory and you have collaborated on?

Simone: Well I'm a film maker and have devoted my life to Independent and high quality films and will continue to do so if you have an opportunity read my book Once upon a time The Proprietor. published in America , England and France . You will know more about me and my work. Bloomsbury in England are the publishers .

Chaanavera: It will be shot in Trinidad and I'll be working with a writer from Trinidad.

But has Sir Vidia approved the project? You know how touchy he is. And a writer from Trinidad -- Indian?

What is the most satisfying film James Ivory and you have collaborated on?