Sanjay Suri has worker for over fifteen years as a high profile model, actor and independent producer. His filmography includes trendsetting films like "Jhankaar Beats" and National Award-winners "Pinjar" and "Filhaal." In 2005, Sanjay produced and starred in "My Brother... Nikhil" (directed by Onir). His gutsy performance as an openly gay character (based on the true story of the first diagnosed AIDS patient in Goa) defied the norms of the Indian film industry and garnered many accolades the world over.

What's your favorite Bollywood film? The term “Bollywood” is relatively new, so one would not be able to name films that are very old. In the last ten to 15 years, there are a few films which top my list and could qualify as a Bollywood film. "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge," "Satya," "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Yuva." All these films are contemporary yet have the essence of Bollywood. All four are diverse in content but the underline is very Bollywood.

And your favorite non-Bollywood film? This list just goes on when one has grown up with films like Satyajit Ray's "Charulata" and "Pather Panchali," "Do Bhiga Zameen," "Mother India," etc. But of the new ones which would qualify as independant cinema, I'd have to pick my own productions -- "My Brother... Nikhil" and others like "Khosla Ka Ghosla" and "Jhankaar Beats."

These were among the first urban-centric films appealing to upwardly mobile citizens, catering to metro and mini-metro audiences, and were accepted purely on merit rather than hype. These films have pushed the envelope by exploring touching subjects that were either taboo or never dealt with. They were more identifiable and relatable films and among the first ones in the current multiplex revolution -- films with great content and credible actors.

Who's your favorite actor or actress outside of Bollywood? One has grown up watching greats like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando and others, but to name a few in the current crop of actors I would go with Sean Penn, Leonardo Di Caprio, Gael Garcia Bernal, Denzel Washington, Johnny Depp, Julia Roberts, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Kate Winslet and Monica Bellucci. All of them add so much to the characters they play and all these have dared to be different. There are many more but I think the list would get too long.

Which actors or actresses outside of Bollywood would you most like to work with? After Brando, who, unfortunately, is no more, I would love to work with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro -- they are my favorites. I think there is so much to learn from them. They have survived decades in this industry and given us cult films with their performances and content.

And which director outside of Bollywood would you most like to work with? Alejandro González Iñárritu, because of his poetic storytelling and visual style and his extraordinary non-linear screenplays. More directors like Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantinto, Fernando Meirelles, Ron Howard, Clint Eastwood, Chris Nolan. They all make amazing films with fantastic subjects, layered emotions, and wonderful acting -- which make their films a great cinematic experience.

Which film would you most like to see given a Bollywood adaptation? "2001: A Space Odyssey," because Bollywood hasn't been to space... it's about time.

Who's your favorite non-Bollywood onscreen couple? Clooney and Julia Roberts, and also Gere and Julia Roberts.

What film would you recommend to someone just getting to know the world of Bollywood cinema? "Amar Akbar Anthony." It had it all the ingredients of a Bollywood film, with a lost mother, a lost brother, religious harmony, deceit, romance, songs, etc.

How do you see Bollywood films influencing films outside India? And how do you see international influences changing Bollywood film? I think both Hollywood and Bollywood make a lot of formula films, a lot of formulaic stuff comes out of both places. So in terms of influencing films, it could be the technique of Hollywood films coming into Bollywood, and the films of Satyajit Ray and such directors could inspire Hollywood.

How do you see the role and perception of Bollywood films to an international audience? How can I decide the perception of international audiences?