Brilliant. Perfectionist. Gifted.

Adjectives are a merely not enough to sum multi talented actor Naseeruddin Shah's credentials.

With the abysmal Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao put behind him, things look bright for Naseer with the internationally acclaimed Monsoon Wedding receiving rave reviews in India too.

In converation with Bharati Dubey:

Tell us about your role in Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding?

I play Lalit Verma in the film, whose daughter is getting married.

While he is busy making arrangements for her wedding, he finds out that there is another man in her life. In fact, there are five parallel tracks running in the film.

In short, it's about a higher middle class family and the daily life problems they face.

Whosoever has watched the film has felt that it's their story.

Take for instance the character of Rahul, my son in the film. I felt it was me.

There is this scene in the film where he rebels when I as a father force him to concentrate on his studies, rather than watch TV and dance around.

There was a similar kind of reaction from my family when I told them I wanted to be an actor.

What convinced you to accept the part in the film?

Mira (Nair) narrated the story of the film to me about a year and half ago.

This was much before the script actually got ready. I quite liked the story and told her I would like to do it.

Especially since this film is not just in Hindi or English. It is in Hindi, Punjabi and English, a language that is very commonally spoken in today's home which makes it sound and look more real.

How did you react when Monsoon Wedding won the Golden Lion Award but missed going to the Oscars?

It really does not matter whether the film went to the Venice film festival or that it failed to go for the Oscar.

All I know is that the film has shaped u well and is being appreciated by people who have seen the film. And that's all I'm happy about.

Your play Ismat Aapa Ke Naam has received rave reviews.

Yes, it has done very well. One of the main reasons I got into producing more plays in Hindi the lack of good plays being made in Hindi, and that was the general opinion about theatres.

I am producing a play which will have my daughter Heeba Shah in it and two new faces. I am also planning a film based on the writing by Ismat Chugtai.

You once made a statement in one of your interviews that Bollywood films are all thrash?

I stand by my statement. Most of the films that are being made here are bad, of course there are some exceptions

Both art and commercial filmmakers seem to be very angry with you?

The main reason for that is that I keep telling them that the films they are making are all crap which they cannot digest.

What about the so called art filmmakers? When they try to deviate from their regulars, they go to mainstream actors. Why don't they cast actors like us in their films?

Even they compromise. And all these factors puts us off completely.

Do you give hundred per cent to your roles?

When I start with the shooting of the film, I definitely start with 100 per cent but when I see the other actor's lack of interest, I withdraw.