Known for making films dealing with social issues ranging from the sins of feudalism (Ankur) to the seemingly insurmountable problems women face (Zubeidaa), Benegal's films are also known for high level performances from seasoned actors and beginners.

But he has never really been a box-office champion, and you cannot but help wonder about his ability not only to mount new films but also attract well known talents to them.

Despite the failure of several of his films, Benegal, who has written many of the over two dozen feature films he has directed apart from producing a few of them, has never been worried to the extent that he feels paralysed even for a brief time. Making films is not something meant for wimps, he could say.

"I never look back," he says chatting over the phone on September 16 after he had completed a day's shooting in Hyderabad, his hometown. "There is no time to look back because you are consumed by what you have on hand. You have to focus on something that you want to do. It is not important to worry over what you have already done."

In the picture: Shabana Azmi in Ankur.