If I'm on the sets as a director, I'd like my actors to be fully committed to the project... I gave the same position to Vishal. I exploited myself as an actor and he did so in direction,' said Gupte.

The writer-director was also all praise for Shahid and Priyanka.

'They are extremely dedicated and have no ego issues with anyone. I never saw them disappearing to their vanity vans after a shot, unlike other actors... that shows their commitment,' he said.

' 'Kaminey' is a caper which is galloping on the first gear at a 100-km- per-hour speed. Come and have fun, it's full of energy,' he added.

Gupte's brush with acting is not new. Not many know that he has acted in National Award-winning film 'Chakar Chandu Ka Chameli Wala' (1982), Ketan Mehta's 'Holi' (1984) and Dayal Nihalani's 'Guru Dakshina' (1986) apart from starring in numerous student films for the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

'As a student of cinema I've kept facing the camera till 1993. I used to work at Rs.30 per day. I spent most of my time in FTII either watching world cinema or in the canteen or under the wisdom tree, where I sat for 12 years,' he said.

Gupte also hosted a talk show for Sony called 'Bindaas Bol' in the 1990s. He is a man of many talents -- apart from acting and writing, he is also a painter and musician.

Asked if he would continue with acting, he joked: 'I'm not here to promote myself as an actor but ya...if (Quentin) Tarantino comes down...'

Gupte is now set to wield the megaphone for 'Sapno Ko Ginte Ginte' - a children's film written by him.