Muzaffar Ali's next movie on poet Rumi

Muzzafar Ali, who has not made a film in over a decade, is currently working on a new project based on great Persian poet Rumi.

The 68-year-old, behind cinema gems like Umraao Jaan and Gaman and a keen poet himself, says he is waiting for resources to materialise to begin work on the ambitious project.

"I am waiting for people with resources to understand my thinking and support my ideas. Sometimes it happens then it doesn't so there are a lot of ifs and buts. Lot of elements involved, everyone is distracted and confused. It takes a lot of work to get everyone on the same page," Ali said.

The director wants to finish work on his Vinod Khanna-Dimple Kapadia starrer Zoon.

"Zooni is half made, so I want to finish that then I am working on a film about 'Rumi-the poet', and I have done a lot of work on it and that again is waiting for the right support. Once I have the support I will ask and think about star cast," he added.

Ali is here to attend the 43rd International Film Festival of India, where he is being paid a special tribute. His Rekha starrer "Umrao Jaan" will be screened here.

"It is a very elevation feeling, The work you have done is being accepted and recognized is very gratifying. And also the work that I did two decades ago is still relevant and it has a contemporary message," he said.

Ali thinks that as we celebrate the 100 years of cinema it is time we focus more on the future of cinema than just profits.

"It's a big journey and an important one but I think people should have been civilized in 100 years of cinema and I see very little of that. We need to think of the future and people are not doing that. Cinema has a huge challenge, it can impact society and we have to see the larger picture and not just thing about making money."

Ali belongs to the Royal Muslim Rajput family of Kotwara. Besides being a filmmaker he is also a poet, painter and a fashion designer.