I will get back to acting soon: Nagesh Kukunoor

New Delhi, March 27: Nagesh Kukunoor, who played the lead debut in self directed "Hyderabad Blues," may soon make a comeback to the world of acting by taking some time out of his commitments in film making. Known for his out-of-the box films like "Dor", "Iqbal" and "Teen Deewarain", Kukunoor said that his first love will always be direction though he also likes to work in front of

the camera. "The project should suit me and it should not infringe on my directorial duties. I love acting and I would surely like to face the camera one of these days," Kukunoor told reporters during a telephonic interview from Mumbai. When asked whether he would only act in films directed by himself, Kukunoor said, "I would like to write the part but it could be directed by anyone." Kukunoor played an NRI, who faces cultural shock after returning to India in his first film "Hyderabad Blues". Shot on a shoe-string budget, it became one of the most successful independent films. The 41-year-old filmmaker kept making appearances in his directorial ventures, including a full fledged role in his second film "Rockford" which also starred Nandita Das. His other acting credentials include small roles in films such as "Dor" and "Teen Deewarein". Kukunoor`s upcoming supernatural thriller "8x10 Tasveer", is slated to hit the theatres on April 3. The movie stars Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Takia, Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad, Anant Mahadevan and Benjiman Gilani in key roles. "8X10 Tasveer" is a murder mystery featuring Akshay Kumar as a man with supernatural powers. The film will mark Kukunoor`s entry into the commercial arena of film making as the director is otherwise known for dishing out unconventional fare, different from the usual Bollywood style. When asked about his venture into mainstream cinema, Kukunoor said, "As a director I have never wished to confine myself to any particular style of filmmaking. I want to explore different genres and my latest film is one small step in this direction. I want to challenge myself each time." Kukunoor who has written the scripts for most of his films said that he gives himself 30 days to develop the first draft of a story, and if unable to meet the deadline, he leaves the project. "8X10 Tasveer", which is a murder-mystery, is also written by the director. "The idea to make a film like Tasveer came out of the blue. I was just looking at some old photographs and thought what if someone had the power to know about the people in the photographs. The idea struck me so much that I decided to develop a story around it," Kukunoor said. "Akshay fit the role completely and he has the caliber to justify the script. I am not averse to taking A-list actors in my films if they are willing to do justice to my story." When asked whether Kukunoor was returning to NRI stories as his latest film is based in Canada, the director replied in the negative saying, "I have based the film in Canada as the script demanded a different background." His ambitious project "Ashayein" starring John Abraham is also slated to release in June this year after much delay. "I wish the film had released earlier but it was delayed due to a host of reasons beyond my control. But I hope that it connects with the audiences and finds commercial success at the box-office," said Kukunoor. The director is also working on another film "Yeh Hausala", the title of which is derived from a song from his film "Dor". "Ashayein was a conscious decision but this time it is just a co-incident that the title comes from the song from `Dor`," he added. Bureau Report