I'll do anything to grab attention: Mahesh Bhatt

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who is gearing up for the release of his next film "Gangster", unabashedly says he will do anything to grab attention.

"Attention grabbing is my business and I would do everything I can to grab attention," Bhatt told IANS here.

So was the legal notice served on him by mobster Abu Salem also part of a publicity stunt?

"You surely can't accuse me of asking Abu Salem to file a case against me to get 'Gangster' in the limelight. If you grant me that much of genius I am delighted," Bhatt said.

After "Gangster", the next film that is keeping him busy is "Woh Lamhe" - the celluloid version of his affair with Hindi cinema's glamour girl Parveen Babi who passed away last year.

"Portions of it are based on my personal life but no film can be an actual replay of your life. Real life doesn't translate into good fiction. It will be too boring. Portions of your life used with a bit of imagination translate into good fiction."

Newcomer Shiney Ahuja is playing Bhatt's part in the film.

Bhatt, who is mainly writing, producing and marketing films for his production house Vishesh Films, says nothing can persuade him to go behind the camera again.

"I am not directing films any more. Direction is a very important part of the film business and I think I have had my run. Everything gets dated, even directors get dated - now there are younger directors directing. They are brighter, better, quicker and more relevant and I am there to help them."

Bhatt is also launching his son with "Suicide Bomber".

"It looks into the mind of a suicide bomber, which is a phenomenon India is familiar with - we lost our prime minister (Rajiv Gandhi) because of that."

Though he didn't talk much about his son, he showed confidence in his nephew Emraan Hashmi's acting skills. Emraan is playing an important role in "Gangster".

"He is our creation. He has just begun. He has got an interesting audience and has a bright future. He has a long way to go."

He refuses to accept that there are no takers for his nephew outside Vishesh Entertainment.

"It is a notion created by the media. He is not dependent on our company to give him work. He has signed Subhash Ghai's film. He has also signed new producer Surendra Bhatia's film."

Bhatt is upbeat about "Gangster", which is releasing Friday, and says the public will like it.

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