We'd be happy to follow Aamir's lead for Oscar campaign: Basu

Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Anurag Basu, who has no plans to make a sequel to "Barfi!", India's official entry for the Oscars this year, reveals that the film's team may take Aamir Khan's help in campaigning for the film in the US.

Basu, who is leaving the entire Oscar strategy to UTV, his producers, said: "They've more experience in the matter. This is my first film that's going to the Oscars, so I am clueless how one goes about it."

Aamir's "Lagaan" was nominated for the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category and the director said: "Aamir has experience in how to position an Indian film for the Oscars. We'd be happy to follow his lead. At the moment we're yet to devise a strategy for the Oscars. Abhi LA (Los Angeles) door hai."

There were talks about a sequel to the film but Basu says that "a sequel is definitely out. Where I will take Barfi's story when he is already dead? If the producers feel comfortable with the idea they're welcome to do sequel to Barfi. The Bhatts did a sequel to my film 'Murder'. I was not involved with it."

At the moment "Barfi!" seems to have a life beyond what Basu expected.

"The Oscar nomination is like a bonus. On the day it was announced, I was locked away writing my next script, so I had no clue until late in the night. Let me not be overly modest and let me admit I knew 'Barfi!" would be liked by critics and would go to various film festivals. It has already been selected for the Pusan, Marrakesh and the Taipei film festival.

"What took me by surprise was the popular mandate given to 'Barfi!'. I never expected it to be so popular. I always looked up to Rajkumar Hirani for making inspirational films that were warmly embraced by the masses. Now 'Barfi!' seems to have done the same."

As for the franchise of going into graphic and animation form, the areas are now being "seriously explored" with many global parties willing to invest in the franchise.

Click the Movie button below for more info:
Barfi!