TW: Your last film, Vasool Raja is reportedly not doing as well as you perhaps excepted? How would you rate it with the original, Munnagahi MBBS?
HK: My assessment is it is as good as the Hindi version. And my own sources say it is doing well wherever it has been released.

TW: What about your next film?
KH: It is going to be a bilingual, and will be released in both Hindi and Tamil. The title is yet to be decided Beyond that, I do not wish to disclose anything as of now.

TW: The film industry in Karnataka is going through a tumultuous phase. What is your take on the ban on non-Kannada films?
KH: I feel very sad about all this. Let me clarify first of all that I am an actor first and foremost and belong to the film industry I don’t consider myself as part of any particular language or region. I would be extremely glad to see the problem resolved amicably. If my Kannada fans want me to act in a Kannada film and if this is going to help the industry in any way, I am ready to do it. I would also like to stress that there is no lack of quality in Kannada films. I am a great admirer of Girish Kasaravalli and Girish Karnad, and have acted with many good actors.

TW: You have been around for a long, long time. What does it take for a successful career in films? Luck, good looks, or talent?
KH: Difficult to say really. For an actor, talent and hard work I guess are more important than anything else. In my case it has been different because I have been wearing the grease paint ever since my childhood.

TW: If you had to give a one line message to upcoming artists and young aspirants in cinema.. what would that be?
KH: I don’t believe in giving advice form a pedestal. In fact I didn’t like it when I was an upcoming artist!

TW: Sometime ago at a film festival I Singapore, you expressed a desire to team up again with Rajinikanth.
KH: In fact I am also eagerly waiting for that golden opportunity. But it is up to the directors to come up with a suitable story line for that to happen.

TW: You are 53, but age has only added to your charm and sex appeal. How do you manage to stay young?
KH: (smiles broadly) I am young because I always consider myself to be younger.

TW: Not counting your visits to the city for film shoots, this has been a rare visit to Bangalore. Would you like to say anything to your fans in Mangalore, form the bottom of your heart?
KH: (laughs) I can only say from the tip of my mouth! I am very happy to be here and am also willing to associate with anyone doing his bit for the film industry, anytime, anywhere.