English, August, Mr Benegal's first full-length directorial venture, a satire on the Indian bureaucracy, became the first small-budget independent film to get huge commercial success. His next movie Split Wide Open, a film set in the TV industry in Mumbai and about subversive sexuality in modern India, was no less a success as it did mad rounds of film festivals abroad.

How does he react to their success? "Well, it certainly is a great feeling. When I first read English, August I said, this is something I've always felt. I could relate to it so well and I set out on my own. But seeing it unfolding so nicely was a dream come true. Split Wide Open is again of the image of Bombay I carried when I first entered the city."

But despite his movies doing well, he has also drawn flak for them. How does he react to the criticism? A smile lights up his face. "I can't expect everyone to like what I'm doing. In fact criticism I think helps me to a certain degree. It keeps me on the edge and ensures that I am not complacent."

His movies also represent sexuality and quite starkly. Does he think the Indian audience is mature enough for it, are they ready for it right now? "Of course, they are, in fact it is the media which misrepresents the facts.

See when the Indian audience is ready enough to do it, they are ready enough to see it as well. They are very mature. In fact, it is from the Indian audience that I have learnt so much about the trade. They've suggested the changes and what they want to see."

But doesn't he think it's the same Indian audience who has whistled at the rape scenes in Bandit Queen." See there is always a certain percentage which reacts in a different manner. But I think the percentage which is ready is much more."

His movies have been away from the typical art movies or the typical commercial movies. What really is his idea behind a movie? "See I want to make movies on subject I am comfortable with. With art movies I think, they have a certain distance from the audience. The typical commercial movies are a different kind. I want to make movies about you, about me, about any of us, anything that any young person can relate to. There is hell lot of a change happening in our society and I want to capture it up-front."

And what does he think is a perfect movie? "One that entertains you and at the same time makes you think". As Mr Shyam Benegal said about him in one of his interviews: "Dev represents a metropolitan sensibility, that's both Indian and transnational." And when are we likely to see his next movie Ravan and Eddie? "I'll start shooting next year. So let's see."