Money is not important to me at all. With my first salary, I bought a lot ofbooks for my wife, Sunita, who was then my girlfriend. For the Mani Ratnammovie, we were shooting in Bangalore. So I got her a lot of sarees, most ofwhich are still piled up at home just the way they were. I like womenwearing sarees, I think they look beautiful, I don't think Indian women areparticularly made (physically) to be able to carry off Western dresses. ButSunita prefers Western outfits.

I don't spend at all on myself--I hate wearing jewellery, having thingshanging around me. I lost out on a lot of work in the beginning because I'dgo around with these phatela jeans, Rs-12 cotton shirts from the roadside,and a stubble, and the producers would shy away from me.

Like I said, money is not important to me. It is just a necessary evilbeyond a point. Look, there is no end to luxuries. For me, making money isnot a problem. In fact, I've been offered so many ads, but I don't believein making money for money's sake. That greed or insecurity is not there.

Besides, my idols, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, have never done ads, so whyshould I?

Actually, I've lost a lot of money. Prem and Roop ki Rani Choron ka Rajawere colossal flops. We have spent more than what our films required. WhileI am otherwise practical about money, I am passionate when it comes tofilms. I am ready to fail. I have the confidence for that. I don't thinkanyone can match my drive for perfection. We deserve far more, but haven'tyet hit the financial jackpot.

You know, I would prefer to do things if I were paid in kind--the old bartersystem. Although, money has no doubt helped to achieve my dreams. I wouldlike to set up something, not a corporation, but maybe restaurants,software. We already have a production house, of course. Let's see, Anupam,Shah Rukh, Gulshan Grover and I, we keep talking over things. But I amlow-key about all this, I don't do things in a big way.

Hey listen, I need advice -- I can't give it! Everyone around me, my wife, mybrother Boney, are wise in money matters. My father-in-law, who was in theSBI, keeps talking about the stock market, all of which goes over my head. Iprefer real estate and have made a few forays into that field. I am veryhappy with my investments--but no one else is.

--as told to Punam Mohandas