After pursuing Amitabh Bachchan for almost two decades, Vidhu Vinod Chopra finally succeeded in getting the ace actor in "Eklavya" and says it's a kind of performance that people have "never seen before".

"We've been trying to work together since 1987. Words fail to convey how I felt after working with him," Chopra told IANS.

"Ralph Fiennes saw 'Eklavya' with me. He was so moved. At the end of it, he applauded spontaneously. On an impulse he went with me to Amitabh Bachchan's house.

"Here was one of the greatest actors in the world praising Amitabh and telling him his performance in 'Eklavya' was among the best he has seen. For once, I think Amitabh took me seriously. I also keep telling him 'Eklavya' is his career's best," he added.

Amitabh will be seen in another film of Chopra, which is going to be directed by Ram Madhvani who worked with him in "Mission Kashmir".

"Ram is making a huge fantasy like 'Lord Of The Rings' for me. Amitabh will star in that. And if all goes well I'll direct another film this fall. I've a couple of ideas."

Excerpts:

Q: Recently you had a very special guest to watch your new film with you.

A: Yes, Ralph Fiennes was here for his UNICEF work. It was a private visit. He saw my "Eklavya" with me. There was just the two of us. He was so moved. At the end of it, he applauded spontaneously. On an impulse he went with me to Amitabh's house.

For once, Amitabh seemed completely moved by the compliments. Here was one of the greatest actors in the world praising Amitabh and telling him his performance in "Eklavya" was among the best he has seen. For once, I think Amitabh took me seriously. I keep telling him "Eklavya" is his career's best.

Q: Your coming together with Amitabh for a film has been delayed by many years.

A: We've been trying to work together since 1987. Words fail to convey how I felt after working with him. Imagine an actor of Amitabh's calibre going on location seven days in advance to rehearse. When I made the request, I thought he'd think I'm crazy. I can tell you one thing, you've never seen the Amitabh of "Eklavya" before. Considering he's been around for 35 years that's saying a lot.

Q: He was very uncomfortable with the beard he had to wear for your film.

A: Yes, but that's what makes him a great actor. You know, all of us have to bear with a lot to create what we believe in. Striving for excellence is never a comfortable position to be in.

Q: Saif Ali Khan had grown quite a lot as an actor in "Parineeta". Has he reached another level with "Eklavya"?

A: Oh absolutely. I also think he was outstanding in "Omkara" too.

Q: "Eklavya" is your first directorial venture in seven years...

A: That's right. My first since "Mission Kashmir" seven years ago. But it doesn't seem I've been away. I was busy with "Munnabhai". I could've delayed it for my directorial film. But to me there's difference between what I direct and what I produce. Really, I felt no lacuna.

As long as I was making good cinema I'm happy. I like to give one film all I have. And I gave "Munnabhai" all I had. "Eklavya" took almost five years to write. When Fiennes said "Eklavya" was Shakespearean I was very touched. I put him on to Abhijat Joshi who wrote the film.

Q: Jaya Bachchan says she can't slot "Eklavya"?

A: Neither can I. I can only define it as an endeavour for the entire team to strive for excellence. At the risk of sounding immodest, I'd like to say most people haven't seen anything like this.

Q: Are you happy with the brand name called "Munnabhai"?

A: We recently shot a trailer for the third. It's called "Munnabhai Chale Amrika". Fieness and I went by helicopter to Nitin Desai's studio in Karjat (outskirts of Mumbai) and shot the trailer. I'm proud of what we're doing. And I'm happy that our cinema has gone where it deserved to be.

But when I make a film, I don't think of how far it'd go. To me what matters is how far I'll go. I think I've gone quite a way. I'm totally satisfied with my work in "Eklavya".

Q: Any regrets about your talented protégés like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Pradeep Sarkar moving on?

A: I love it. Some kids decide to stay home with their parents. Others move on. Parents have to support their children in what they decide to do. As Khalil Gibran said, "They're like the arrows and you're the bow." I can only give them a sense of direction. Beyond that I can't keep them back. All I want is they should go out and make me proud.

When Sanjay makes a good film I feel happy. Of course, I've the right to scream at him if he makes a bad film. At a recent awards function there were 17 people who went up to the stage and thanked me. But my job isn't to look at others. My job is to look ahead at what I can do.

Q: When are you directing another film?

A: Raju Hirani and Ram Madhvani are directing films that I'm producing. Ram was with me on "Mission Kashmir". He's making a huge fantasy like "Lord Of The Rings" for me. Amitabh will star in that. And if all goes well I'll direct another film this fall. I've a couple of ideas.