Bollywood is in its golden age now: Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher, who's experimented with different film genres as an actor and director, feels that the quality of scripts, cinematography and screenplays in Hindi films hasn't gone down but actually improved over the years.

"I don't think Bollywood is going through a bad phase. Instead, I think it is in its golden time right now," Anupam told IANS.

"A lot of films are released in India. There are some good and some bad. It is just like a reporter's article. Every article can't be good," the actor said.

Anupam, who has given the industry some landmark films like Saransh, Daddy and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, was in the capital last week to shoot for Rajdhani Express, in which he plays a politician.

He strongly opposes the notion of judging the quality of a film by its banner.

"Whether a film is launched under a big banner or small, it cannot determine the success of a film. Besides, even the capabilities of a banner cannot be judged if the banner gives a flop or two," Anupam said at the French embassy here when filmmaker Yash Chopra was awarded the Legion d'Honneur July 5.

"The kind of cinema Yash Chopra makes and the amount of contribution that he has made to the Indian film industry, he has every right to be the godfather of Bollywood," said Anupam, who featured in Chopra's Lamhe and Darr.

The actor, who has opened acting schools in India and abroad, is quite happy with the number of youngsters who have entered Bollywood.

"It is really nice that so many people want to enter into films. I hope the best out of them all survives," he said.

Asked about his views on his son Sikander's films Woodstock Villa and Summer 2007, he said: "I am very happy with the way Sikander's career is picking up and I hope he keeps doing well."

Anupam's forthcoming releases include Karan Razdan-directed Mr. Bhatti on Chutti and Rumi Jaffrey's God Tussi Great Ho.