By IndiaFM News Bureau

From performing in television serials to directing them, to acting in films and subsequently directing them as well, Anant Mahadevan has come a long way. Anant Mahadevan started his career as an actor with the TV series, Khandaan, he was much acclaimed as ''Pundit Purnaiya'' in ''The Sword of Tipu Sultan''. Anant then ventured into film direction with Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaa. His film Victoria No. 203 starring Jimmy Shergill, Preeti Jhangiani, Anupam Kher, Om Puri and Javed Jaffrey released this week.

Anant was live on IndiaFM''s celebrity chat, where he interacted with his fans. Here are some excerpts from the same.

ali : hello Anant
Anant Mahadevan : hello everybody

john : how was it directing Victoria 203
Anant Mahadevan : yes it was challenge making a film that has become an icon for hindi films but was fun adapting it to modern times

john : how was it directing Victoria 203
Anant Mahadevan : yes it was challenge making a film that has become an icon for hindi films but was fun adapting it to modern times

priya64 : hello anant ji.. Are u excited about your movie
Anant Mahadevan : yes with every release the excitement n expectations rise more so with victoria since its already made a place in the history of Hindi cinema

sam : hey anant what interested u to make a film like AKSAR?
Anant Mahadevan : suspence is always when a favourite genre n my first foray into it was aksar followed by aggar to be released next month

priya64 : how come u stopped working as an actor and turned nto direction?
Anant Mahadevan : i wud call it agraduation from acting to direction but i still continue to do interesting parts n im currently in nagesh kukunoor''s tasveer

priya64 : hello anant ji.. are u excited aboout your movie
Anant Mahadevan : yes weith every release the excitement n expectations rise more so with victoria since its already made a place in the history of hindi cinema

priya64 : how is the movie different from the old one?
Anant Mahadevan : adapting a 70''s hit by changing certain popular gimmics n repacing them with today''s attitudes n subtler approach

priya64 : was jimmy shergill ur first choice for the role?
Anant Mahadevan : yes for the part originally played by navin nishchal

tiger : hi anant what was ur debut movie as an actor
Anant Mahadevan : an english film kim opposte peter otooole

adoor : ananth, are you planning to switch to some serious stuff?
Anant Mahadevan : yes, adoor i have made a film staying alive in Hindi based on a true story and it is my most uncompromising work so far

sam : anant u have acted in hundred of films does the experience help while directing a film
Anant Mahadevan : yes certainly one can judge better having been on both sided of the fence n it becomes easier to direct ur collegues becoz there r aware that i know wot im talking about

sam : anant u have acted in hundred of films does the experience help while directing a film
Anant Mahadevan : yes certainly one can judge better having been on both sided of the fence n it becomes easier to direct ur colleagues becoz there r aware that i know wot im talking about

karnik : How do u rate jimmy as an actor?
Anant Mahadevan : jimmy is very talented n has n''t really got his due as an actor but im sure that he would soon achieve the stardom that is alluding him

tiger : wat r ur expectations frm aggar?
Anant Mahadevan : tiger, aggar hopefully is one step ahead of aksar n tushar and
shreyas form a dynamic pairwith some terrific performances

priya64 : what are ur upcoming movies? other than aggar
Anant Mahadevan : anamika and staying alive

chak de : what are your expectations from an actor working in ur film?
Anant Mahadevan : chak de, sensitive performance fully comprehending the character he is portraying

karnik : why did u take viju shah in victoria no203? what is different in his music
Anant Mahadevan : like kamal sadana who produced the film viju''s dad composed music for original victoria203 so it wa sall in family

ahmed : you were to start a movie with ayesha takia what is the status of that?
Anant Mahadevan : as far as i know there was no film with ayeshaia on the angle but wud love to work vid her in the future

chak de : hi anant have u seen chak de india what is ur opinion about it from the director''s perspective
Anant Mahadevan : unfortunately haven''t seen yet bur intend to do so

sam : is aggar a sequel to aksar?
Anant Mahadevan : no but its in the same genre of suspence

chak de : which actor do u wish to work with in future?
Anant Mahadevan : i love to work vid amitabh bachachan n mohan lal

chak de : which actor do u wish to work with in future?
Anant Mahadevan : i love to work vid amitabh bachachan n mohan lal

moshe sapir : victoriya ya aksar which is better directed
Anant Mahadevan : moshe sapir they r two diffrent genres its unfair to make comparisons both need to be appraoached diffrently

koneru : Anant what do think about RGV''s caliber to remake sholay? do u think it will work
Anant Mahadevan : wel he is avey serior director i respect his work n can;t comment on untill i see the film

adoor : i could read your tributes to bergman in the screen. it seems u r influenced by his work. who isn''t? when can we expect something from you that would justify your views about bergman?
Anant Mahadevan : well staying alive is a quite tribute to the great master although it has no refrence pt. to any film made by him

sam : which was ur fav film thats u''ve worked in and one that u''ve not worked in?
Anant Mahadevan : i wud rate Bazzigar as one of my favourites and i wish i cud have been a part of lagaan 2

sam : which was ur fav film thats u''ve worked in and one that u''ve not worked in?
Anant Mahadevan : i wud rate Bazzigar as one of my favourites and i wish i cud have been a part of lagaan 2

akram : I liked your movie, Dil Maange More.. It was awesome!!! do u plan to cast Shahid again?
Anant Mahadevan : yes, shahid is a wonderful actor and dancer n i wwud certain\ly cast him if i work on a script that suits him as much as dmm did

moshe sapir : ur films have always had good music-
Anant Mahadevan : thanku nkeep listening to aggar and anamika

khiladi : im still so scared of u man, since the time i had seen u in khiladi
Anant Mahadevan : that wa sonly a character i was playing in it on the same note u shud sympathise with me bazzigar

priya64 : who are ur fav actoress in the industry at the moment?
Anant Mahadevan : rani mukherjee, Kajol n preiti zinta

moshe sapir : how does it feel that aksar was one of bigest music in 2006
Anant Mahadevan : moshe success always ggives u confidence to work harder n it feels gud aksar succeded in ayear when so many big film s werre released

akram : Today your movie Victoria No. 203is releasing are you nervous about people''s reaction?
Anant Mahadevan : nervous energy is always gud for a creative person and i hope n pray that the audiences like it

akram : Today your movie Victoria No. 203is releasing are you nervous about people''s reaction?
Anant Mahadevan : nervous energy is always gud for a creative person and i hope n pray that the audiences like it

moshe sapir : What is yr fave amitabh movie have you approached him for any films?
Anant Mahadevan : my fav is cheenikum oflate n i hope to work on a script that is befitting for him

priya64 : which movie of urs is ur most memorable for u ? where u have given ur best performance ever, acc to u
Anant Mahadevan : i wud rate the tv serial the sword of tipu sultan where i plyed pornaiya as my performance

priya64 : if jimmy hadnt done the movie, who wud be your second choice?
Anant Mahadevan : well now that he has done it its diffucult to think of anybody else

sam : what made u cast om puri and anupam kher? were there other options too? had u considered anyone else also?
Anant Mahadevan : om and anupam both are international stars n were the perfect chpoices for Raja and rana

akram : what is your take on Salman Khan and sanjay dutt''s case?
Anant Mahadevan : when the judiciary steps into ur lives there s very little 1 can do

MaNNO : Hello sir...I have been watching u from many years in TVs....ur personality and ur acting is so pleasant...are u doing anythign else on tv at present?
Anant Mahadevan : thanku so much for ur words of encouragement tv unfortunately is far removed from what i used to know in my days

moshe sapir : how was it to work with Abbas Mastan Alibhai Burmawalla
Anant Mahadevan : Abbas mastan and hussain are wonderful creative people n all my 3 films khiladi bazgar n baadshah were a treat

shahid : How do you rate Aamir Khan as an actor and his choice of films?
Anant Mahadevan : first rate

moshe sapir : Chandra Barots don ya farhans don? do u think farhan has done justice to the old film
Anant Mahadevan : farhan gave don his own interpretation n sharukh energy liven the film to gr8 extent

moshe sapir : how do u think ur film will do wen there our other blockbusters like dhokha and RGV ki aag releasing at the same time?
Anant Mahadevan : well with our limited no. of shows i hope to get an audience looking for pure fun n entertainment

moshe sapir : SRK is a superstar, did u have to face any attitude problems with him?

Anant Mahadevan : i had agr8 time working with in bazzigar n baadsha

moshe sapir : Ur fave singer in the industry among the new are?
Anant Mahadevan : shaan

moshe sapir : what do u think of YRF do u plan to direct any film with them?
Anant Mahadevan : not at the moment its the biggest n best film prod. co. today

bhaumik : could u give me 2 reasons to watch Victoria 203 ?
Anant Mahadevan : fun, and frolic

moshe sapir : I think ur work in Dil Vil Pyar Vyar was fantastic how was it shooting with
so many stars
Anant Mahadevan : it was a great ensemble an d adapting r. d burman''s tunes is the experience in itself

moshe sapir : I think ur work in Dil Vil Pyar Vyar was fantastic how was it shooting with
so many stars
Anant Mahadevan : it was a great ensemble an d adapting r. d burman''s tunes is the experience in itself

sun : what is anamika about? Could u give a jist of it?
Anant Mahadevan : sun, it''s a romantic mystery set in Bombay n Rajasthan

sam : AKSAR why did it have such an anti-climax? any particular reasons
Anant Mahadevan : it wasnt an anti but surprise climax first hindi film where villian got away with murder

akram : You did superb work in Aksar. Emraan did a fine job. Why didn''t you cast him in your coming film Aggar?
Anant Mahadevan : i didn''t want the film to get predictable and tushaar and shyesha have both done a commendable job

bhaumik : among all the songs in Dil Vil Pyar Vyar wat was ur personal fav song?
Anant Mahadevan : kyan jano saajan hoti hati hai gham ki shaam

Jai Karachi : i liked yr acting in the movie ishq ... u had done a small role but u acted well in that too shows that no role is big or small
Anant Mahadevan : thanku so much jai karachi

bhaumik : wht do u think abt imran hashmi as an actor?
Anant Mahadevan : he has his own style and is a very interesting talent

moshe sapir : Which movie are u looking forward for in 2007?
Anant Mahadevan : difficult to say there r lot of interesting films coming up

Jai Karachi : Well wat do u like the most acting or directing
Anant Mahadevan : if its a good role acting good script direction

moshe sapir : do you have a role model when it comes to direction?
Anant Mahadevan : it all the gr8 inspired me to love cinema

akram : It was aksar, now aggar, so in future it will be Maggar?
Anant Mahadevan : no it will be anjaam

akram : It was aksar, now aggar, so in future it will be Maggar?
Anant Mahadevan : no it will be anjaam

sam : What do u like a film to have? a better script or style
Anant Mahadevan : a better script

sam : r u going to remake any more films?
Anant Mahadevan : no sam not in near future

priya64 : since u like suspense/thriller movie.. Name one english thriller u wud like to remake? That if u had the chance to n who wud u cast?
Anant Mahadevan : ideally wud like to remake any of ur fav. films but wud like to work on someone equally good

bhaumik : anant i want to knw wht u think abt jodha akbar?
Anant Mahadevan : looks like a magnamogous lets wait and see

akbar : you worked with ajay devgan in ishq, any plans on making a film with him?
Anant Mahadevan : as soon as he gets free with all his commitments

sam : do u plan to do any television shows are u doing any currently?
Anant Mahadevan : not any other at the moment

usman : what do u think of dino morea as a person?
Anant Mahadevan : wonderful gentleman and interesting actor

Jai Karachi : you like to be a very serious person ... is it soo ?
Anant Mahadevan : not really i like anybody with the sense of humour

Jai Karachi : you like to be a very serious person ... is it soo ?
Anant Mahadevan : not really i like anybody with the sense of humour

Pokiri : who is composing the music for anamika?
Anant Mahadevan : anu malik

usman : hey,,, do u think that shahid kapoor has a lot of attitude?
Anant Mahadevan : no he''s very lovable person

lucifer : hello sir, well i have loved ur movies whether it was a tribute to the old generation or the kind of suspense thrller u make
Anant Mahadevan : thanks lucifer, keep on loving me n work

lucifer : sir, why dont u do movies with established stars as well.. since u have so much of talent as a director.. like madhuri?
Anant Mahadevan : the intention is to work vid stars in future and make akind of big films u wud want to see liucifer

Pokiri : during the shoot of victoria were there any memorable moments?
Anant Mahadevan : pokhri, the chemistry betwen om and anuopam and constast improvization on the sets

lucifer : i think u bring sensuality in a decent way, which why i loved aksar hw much of that is in aggar?
Anant Mahadevan : yes sensuality but in a different and new kind of passion.

moshe sapir : do u have any regrets in the film Victoria?
Anant Mahadevan : no

sam : u tried diverse genres till now so whatz ahead?
Anant Mahadevan : the attempt will always be to make newer teams and different kinda cinema

sam : u tried diverse genres till now so whatz ahead?
Anant Mahadevan : the attempt will always be to make newer teams and different kinda cinema

moshe sapir : Himesh the actor ta himesh the music dir?
Anant Mahadevan : himesh- music director so thanks everyone love you all happy watching and goodbye sorry for not having replied to all your queries my time is up bye

Courtesy: IndiaFM.com

Submitted By IndiaFM News Bureau