Actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan, whose directorial debut Taare Zameen Par has been chosen as India's official entry for the Oscar awards in the foreign language category, on Monday said he would try his best to do the country proud.
Aamir said he considered Oscars to be a window of opportunity for Indian cinema to reach out to a wider audience.
'Mother India and Lagaan are the only two films which have reached the final five nominations in the foreign film category.
"Awards have always been secondary to me. I have made a film for the audience and their verdict means the most to me. Taare Zameen Par (TZP) made a strong impact on the audiences and also earned Rs 131 crore at the Box Office worldwide."
"Oscars or BAFTA (British Academy of Films and Television Arts) are a platform to address a larger audience across the globe and create an awareness about Indian cinema worldwide," Aamir told reporters in Mumbai.
The actor denied he shunned Indian film awards. "Lagaan did very well at the national film awards. I hope 'TZP' would also do the same. I recently received a prestigious award for 'TZP' in Chennai and was moved to tears at the honour," Aamir, who does not acknowledge popular film awards and never attends the functions, said.
{{/usCountry}}The actor denied he shunned Indian film awards. "Lagaan did very well at the national film awards. I hope 'TZP' would also do the same. I recently received a prestigious award for 'TZP' in Chennai and was moved to tears at the honour," Aamir, who does not acknowledge popular film awards and never attends the functions, said.
{{/usCountry}}Aamir said hiring a good publicist and organising additional screenings of 'TZP' in Los Angeles and New York was on the top of his agenda as he prepares to promote the film in the US.
"I need to be stationed there throughout. It was possible for Lagaan as I had taken a break for four years after its theatrical release. Right now, I am shooting for 3 Idiots and Ghajini," he added.