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French-Afghan writer-filmmaker Atiq Rahimi says he makes it a point to visit India every year because he thinks he shares a mystic connection with the country.
The 50-year-old, who is famous for his novel 'Earth and Ashes' which was later made into a movie directed by him, says India gives him solace and he feels he was born here.
"I sometimes feel my roots are here, I share this connection with India which I don't understand what it is. I feel I was born here, raised in Afganistan and now living in France. I find peace here," said Rahimi, who was in the Capital to attend the 12th Osians Film Festival.
The filmmaker says he is a huge fan of Hindi films and likes to watch them like any other Indian fan. Rahimi is also trying to collaborate with Bollywood artists to make a movie.
"I love Bollywood and Hindi films. I am a huge fan of Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Shah Rukh Khan. I have two projects for which I am trying to get in Bollywood actors but it has been delaying cause of financial matters. I hope I make a film soon," he added.
Rahimi says, like him, there are many people in Afghanistan who are crazy about Bollywood films and Indian TV shows.
"We have screenings of TV series and Hindi films there and people there love to watch them. The hall is always packed and we also have serials being telecast on TV," he said.
Rahimi talked about the change in attitude of people in Afghanistan towards cinema and how the younger generation is trying to look beyond subjects of war and plight of women in the country.
"We have about 100 films being made every year and it is not only about war and women issues. The younger breed of filmmakers is looking beyond that and is focusing on the culture and nature of the country.
"There are times when certain organisation who fund the film ask the director to make it on war only, but the younger lot is smart, they take the money but make the film on what they want to," Rahimi added.
He insisted that the major problem the country faces is lack of avenues for artists.
"We don't have film-making schools or academies. We don't even have studios, so that is a major problem. Also there is no platform to show Afghan movies outside, to bring in international market," he said.
The 50-year-old, who is famous for his novel 'Earth andAshes' which was later made into a movie directed by him, saysIndia gives him solace and he feels he was born here.
"I sometimes feel my roots are here, I share thisconnection with India which I don't understand what it is. Ifeel I was born here, raised in Afganistan and now living inFrance. I find peace here," said Rahimi, who was in theCapital to attend the 12th Osians Film Festival.
The filmmaker says he is a huge fan of Hindi films andlikes to watch them like any other Indian fan. Rahimi is alsotrying to collaborate with Bollywood artists to make a movie.
"I love Bollywood and Hindi films. I am a huge fan ofAmitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Shah Rukh Khan. I have twoprojects for which I am trying to get in Bollywood actors butit has been delaying cause of financial matters. I hope I makea film soon," he added.
Rahimi says, like him, there are many people inAfghanistan who are crazy about Bollywood films and Indian TVshows.
"We have screenings of TV series and Hindi films thereand people there love to watch them. The hall is always packedand we also have serials being telecast on TV," he said.
Rahimi talked about the change in attitude of people inAfghanistan towards cinema and how the younger generation istrying to look beyond subjects of war and plight of women inthe country.
"We have about 100 films being made every year and it isnot only about war and women issues. The younger breed offilmmakers is looking beyond that and is focusing on theculture and nature of the country.
"There are times when certain organisation who fund thefilm ask the director to make it on war only, but the youngerlot is smart, they take the money but make the film on whatthey want to," Rahimi added.
He insisted that the major problem the country faces islack of avenues for artists.
"We don't have film-making schools or academies. We don'teven have studios, so that is a major problem. Also there isno platform to show Afghan movies outside, to bring ininternational market," he said.
