What according to you made the Oscar Jury shortlist Water in the Foreign Film category?

I guess because Water appeals not only to the eye and the heart but also to the brain. It provides a great intellectual stimulation. It’s cinematic language communicates with international audience just the way Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali did.

But isn’t the tale of 1930’s Varanasi widows far too depressing, it shows India in a bad light?

Of course it is not an entertaining film, it is a depressing story. It is a human story that had to be told. If we can talk about the World War, Saddam Hussain, Bush, why not about Varanasi widows? It is an issue that had to be addressed. Even today, there are people who will make insensitive remarks about widows like,"Subah subah kiski shakal dekh li !!

Which is your favourite scene?

The climax scene in which Shakuntala (the role I play) picks up the child-widow Chuiya and runs along the train on which Gandhiji is travelling, urging him to take away the child from the life of misery in the widow house. Narayan (John Abraham) hears her cry from within the train and comes out to the rescue of the child. Shakuntala looks back with a satisfied smile. It is a scene that conveys all the pathos and hope.