Balki is not bothered with how the audience will accept the two actors in reversed roles. 'There's no point in making a film if it doesn't push envelopes. I won't do a film that doesn't challenge me and my actors.'

Another ongoing leitmotif in Balki's cinema is the music of Ilayaraja.

'He's god. He has been a major source of inspiration. I don't think India has known a better music composer. Sadly one-half of India has not heard him enough.'

For 'Cheeni Kum' Balki specifically asked Ilayaraja for tunes from his Tamil films.

'I wanted Hindi moviegoers to hear those times. Even in 'Paa' I've transposed some of his South Indian tunes into Hindi. It's not that important to be original. It's more important to do what you believe in,' he said.

Balki is miffed that the Big B's Progeria look has been leaked out. 'Fortunately that's only a part of his look. No one came on the set to see how he looks on camera. The makeup person was given a computer-generated picture of Amitji. He improvised a lot on that and added traits from real Progeria patients.'

Progeria is an extremely rare genetic disease of childhood characterized by dramatic, premature aging.