No Salman in my directorial debut: Amol Gupte

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) Amol Gupte has dismissed rumours that Salman Khan will star in his directorial venture 'Sapno Ko Ginte Ginte'. The scriptwriter-director-actor says he is yet to approach an actor for the main lead.

'News like Salman Khan, etc... these are the after-effects of the media. I'm not in talks with anyone as of now but I will soon be talking. As of now I have to freeze my script for 'Sapno Ko Ginte Ginte' and that is my priority,' Gupte told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

'Moreover, even when I do so (approach an actor), I'd like to reserve the name of the star to avoid jeopardising my chances of roping him in my film,' added Gupte, who will be seen in a negative role in Vishal Bharadwaj's thriller 'Kaminey'.

Gupte, who was earlier directing the critically-acclaimed hit 'Taare Zameen Par' that was about a dyslexic child, lost all credit to actor Aamir Khan, who took over the reins from him and earned rave reviews for making a perfect debut as a director with the film.

Having burnt his finger once after roping in Aamir, a proclaimed perfectionist in the industry, Gupte said: 'The word perfectionist is the only word in the dictionary that has bothered me so much. It has been so abused in the industry.'

But has he forgiven the actor for his deed?

'There is nothing to forgive about and in fact I'm not in a state to forgive...I just know I have nothing to say about the matter,' he said.

Just like 'Taare Zameen Par', 'Sapno Ko...' is also a children-oriented film. While the former focussed on dyslexia, the latter is about economic disparities among children.

'It is on children and it has some fabulous child artists who will be superstars. The audience will watch it with open mouths like they watched Darsheel Safary in 'Taare Zameen Par'. It is about inequality and poverty. It is an equally emotional movie with equally lovely songs like 'Taare...',' he said.

He also explained his bent towards such themes.

'The problem is that such children can't fight for themselves... they don't have any support system; nor do they belong to any group. So someone has to speak for them,' he said.

Also an actor, painter and musician, Gupte says he believes in having a perfect script before wielding the megaphone.

'It took me five years to write my first film and it has taken me almost two years to work on my second. I make it a point to take time for my scripts and I wouldn't move ahead if I am not happy with it. It has to be perfect on paper first before getting it on the floors,' he said.

Gupte plans to release his 'Sapno Ko Ginte Ginte' in 2010.