Who doesn't know about Bollywood: TOM HANKS

Who doesn't know about the Indian film industry, asks Hollywood star Tom Hanks who would like to be part of a Bollywood film and is keen to share screen space with Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan.

"Who doesn't know about the Indian film industry nowadays? If I get an opportunity to venture into such a project, I will seriously think about it. I would love to act in a film with Big B and Abhishek Bachchan," Hanks said in an e-mail interview to IANS from Los Angeles. Although the actor "hasn't been to India", he has "heard a lot about it". The 54-year-old star forayed into Hollywood with the 1980 movie "He Knows You're Alone" and proved his versatility with films as diverse as "Philadelphia", " Forrest Gump", "You've Got Mail" and " The Da Vinci Code". He also lent his voice to the character of Woody in the "Toy Story" series. He won two consecutive Oscars - in 1993 for "Philadelphia" and in 1994 for "Forrest Gump". Hanks' latest film "Larry Crowne" has just hit the theatres. He is seen opposite Julia Roberts. The two have teamed up after four years - they were seen together in the 2007 critically acclaimed film "Charlie Wilson's War". "Larry Crowne" tells the story of a middle-aged Navy veteran Larry Crowne, who after losing his job at a retail chain, reinvents himself by going back to college, where he becomes a part of a colourful community of outcasts. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Roberts). The film is being distributed by Universal Pictures. The 54-year-old star says his film "Larry Crowne" is an attempt to "combat cynicism". "People are naturally optimistic, but you have to choose to walk away from cynicism. You have to say, I am going to combat cynicism today," Hanks said. "I had this idea about a unique guy who loses his job and then, at the end of the movie, realises that it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He thought he was going to die, but it turned out great," he added. Hanks has not only acted in the film but has also produced, directed and written it. He feels direction is tougher than acting. "Directing is a constant test of your communicative powers. Acting is almost like a vacation compared with the workload that a director has," said Hanks, who previously directed the 1996 film "That Thing You Do!".