Manmohan Singh liked 'Taj Mahal', says Akbar Khan

Mumbai, Nov 26 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took some time off from his schedule to watch writer-director Akbar Khan's latest release "Taj Mahal", which he termed as "educative and entertaining".

Singh watched the Rs.750-million historical opus at his official residence in New Delhi with his entire family. He called the film "a brilliant effort to convey one of the salient periods of history through the medium of cinema...", according to director Khan.

After the film drew criticism from a section, including film critics, the words of appreciation from the prime minister came as music to the ears for Khan.

"I presented him a print of the film. He called back to say he wanted to meet the entire team. The lead pair Zulfiker Syed and Sonia Jehan, along with Arbaaz Khan, Pooja Batra, co-producer Irshad Alam and my wife, daughter and sister and I met the prime minister Thursday," Khan told IANS.

"I was thrilled by his comments and also when he told me that he had met the visiting president of Indonesia and told him to see my 'Taj Mahal' to see what Bollywood was all about."

The prime minister also assured Khan that the possibility of "Taj Mahal" being granted tax exemption would be examined.

"We are also meeting Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit to discuss this," said Khan.

Commenting on the controversies about the film's mammoth budget, he remarked: "People who have not seen the film doubt my budget. Those who have seen it know exactly where the Rs.750 million have gone.

"I have spent that much. That makes it the most expensive Indian film. My financiers, partners and distributors have full faith in me. They have told me they are just happy to be associated with 'Taj Mahal'."

Khan admits the promotion of "Taj Mahal" was premature and the lack of star-value hampered the film's prospects.

"But even 'Titanic' had no stars. But it spread like wildfire. I am proud of my cast. People have liked them. Even if I had the choice of Shah Rukh, Salman or Aamir for Shehzada Khurram's role, I wouldn't have taken them.

"They are great actors and I would love to work with them. But stars don't work as historical characters. They wouldn't have suited the role."

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