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Panaji: Vishal Bhardwaj's movies have the common theme of violence and suspense, and the director says he is obsessed with these two genres and wants to make films like Alfred Hitchcock. His work includes movies such as 'Omkara', 'Kaminey', 'Ishqiya' and '7 Khoon Maaf', and though Vishal is inclined towards thrillers, he does not want to get stuck in any genre.

"I don't want to get stuck in one genre. I want to explore, I want to make Hitchcock kind of films. I love violence and also I want to explore making horror movies. As a kid I played a lot with guns so I am fascinated with violence, I just enjoy that," Bhardwaj told PTI at the ongoing International Film Festival of India here.

The 47-year-old's movies are always set against a rural backdrop and are highly inspired by folk music. Bhardwaj says it is due to his upbringing in the small city of Meerut that he is so rooted and fascinated by villages and folk music.

I love Indian folk music and villages, people from there are more interesting than the urban city people so I really like to have those characters in my films. I grew up in a small town of Meerut and so mostly my movies reflect

experiences of my childhood. While making movies I go back to my past and draw experiences from that," he said.

Bhardwaj's upcoming project is 'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola', starring Pankaj Kapur, Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma. The movie will hit the screens on January 11.

The director says it is a 'mad film' and he hopes the audience will enjoy it. "It is a mad mad movie, it is a bizarre story and I just hope people will like it. My actors have worked hard for it, especially Imran because he had to get that Haryanvi accent right and the bearded look had to look appropriate. So her has worked hard more than anyone else."

Courtesy: You tube trailer

It's after three years that Pankaj Kapur will be back to acting with the upcoming film Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. Kapur, who turned director with Mausam, is teaming up with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj afterMaqbool and The Blue Umbrella.

"Yes, it's after a long gap that we are working together. Vishal was busy with other projects, and I was concentrating on my debut directorial venture. I was hungry as an actor and Vishal offered me an interesting role, so I took it up," says Kapur. The film has him playing the character of Mandola a pompously rich man whose only weakness is alcohol.

"He is a high-spirited, full of life character, extremely fond of his daughter (played by Anushka Sharma)," informs Kapur who for the first time is seen dancing in the film. "Not just dance, Vishal has even made me sing a couple of songs — one is on snoring (khurrate) and the other appears in the climax," smiles Kapur adding that the role has given him an opportunity to explore other dimensions of acting. He confesses to doing several rehearsals for the dance number and at times even improvising on the sets. "It's all a part of filmmaking process," he explains.

Though Kapur is hailed as one of the best actors with a couple of National Awards in his kitty, his debut film as a director got him more brickbats than bouquets and failed at the box-office. "It's unfair to compare my body of work as an actor for 30 years to my first film as a director. Having said that it's a learning process and I am ready to correct all the mistakes I made. Creativity is a life-long process," he philosophises.

Ask him about Shahid currently undergoing a bad phase in his career with two flops in a row and the proud father retorts that ups and downs are part of a star's career.

"Also, it depends on several factors like the release and marketing. Shahid is young, a very good actor and a star in his own right. A couple of more films and he will be up there, but what's important is doing good work," says Kapur.

Mumbai: Actor Imran Khan says he never really gives in to a critic's opinion because for him appreciation from a large group of people matters the most. "I never really gave anyways to critic opinions because it is ultimately the opinion of one person, so why should I take the opinion of one critic? To me appreciation comes from large number of people," Imran told IANS.

"If any one person says it (movie) is good, then it doesn't necessarily have to be good. When a whole lot of people say that it is bad, then I will listen to them. And when a whole lot of people will say it is good, then I will listen to them," he added.

The actor made his Bollywood debut in 2008 with 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na' and went on to do films like 'Delhi Belly', 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan' and 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu'.

Imran is now looking forward to the release of his upcoming film 'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola', in which he dons a typical Haryanvi look, however, he refuses to take the credit for it.

"Look for the film was not really a hard work. I will not take the compliment for that because you have some really talented people, who helped me getting the perfect look," said Imran.

"My costume designers, makeup artists have put in a lot of research and hard work for that. So I will not take the credit for that," he added.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, 'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola' also features Anushka Sharma, Arya Babbar, Pankaj Kapoor and Shabana Azmi. It is slated for Jan 11 release.