I prefer to be like Steven Spielberg: Kamal Haasan

Chennai burns at a sweltering 38 degree C. But Kamal Haasan's office cabin is freezing. The actor jokes saying — "I'm not material for cold storage, but I like the temperatures that way" His Viswaroop (Hindi) is in its final stages of mixing. The trade says it will release in August. The filmmaker says — "I'll let you know soon." Between cups of hot Kumbakonam degree coffee, he finds time for a quick chat.

Is Viswaroop (Hindi) (Viswaroopam in Tamil) — written, produced and directed by you — your most ambitious project?
I'm borrowing a line from writer-filmmaker Ingmar Bergman here. He said, 'Every time I do a film, I think this is the last film.' It could be. We don't really know. Hypothetically, what would I do if this were my last film? I don't know if I will be allowed to make another film. Anything unforeseen can happen. So every film that I make, I just put everything I have in it. You see, for the audience it may not be the last film that they are seeing. But for an actor, every film he does, should be done in that spirit, because that's the only way to approach your work. I will not kill myself over a film. I adopt a very motherly attitude to every film of mine. I want to feed it, nurture it, and give it all the emotion I have. So many things can go wrong even if you are the top star. The biggest names like Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, if you think there is 200 crore riding on each of their projects, there are also 200 crore-worth of obstacles to surmount. Believe me, if you live, eat, breathe movies like the way I do, then you tend to obsess over your movies. An actor, filmmaker can either be just an actor — shun the problems on set, lock himself inside his vanity van and play with Dame Luck — or he can be right there with the rest of the crew leading from the front. Makers like Steven Spielberg etch every line that goes into making their film. I prefer to be like Spielberg, this keeps me happy and busy.

After 200 films you still have a child-like enthusiasm towards your work. And for an actor who is in his late 50s, you also seem to have preserved your looks very well.
I've my father to thank for this. I've not gone into the hands of a plastic surgeon, at least not yet. If it comes to that, I will do anything to preserve my looks.