<span class=normal>The challenges faced<BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Well, apart from what I mentioned in answer to your first question, let me mention two constructive challenges. Challenges which needed effort but offered big creative rewards. Firstly, both Prakash and I are fascinated with the Mahabharata. It was his suggestion that we look at some core aspects of the Mahabharata story and some key characters and see if they were relevant to our story, and if so, we adapt those. This may sound simple but it takes some doing, I assure you, since the milieu of our story is contemporary. Reinterpreting the characters and their dilemmas and making them relevant to todays situation was an interestingly difficult task. Secondly, working with a director who is also your co-writer presents some rather unique challenges. You see, even though I wrote the first draft of the screenplay and Prakash was to rewrite it, as I was constructing it, it was imperative to keep in mind Prakashs requirements as a director. Which meant, synchronizing your sensibilities and story-telling style not only with Prakash as a writing partner but also with the same person as director. Never easy. If the partnership is not democratic, it can become a rather serious problem for both. Fortunately, Prakash and I have known each other since 2002 when he asked me to be script consultant on Gangaajal. That arrangement worked out quite well, and so I was consultant on Apaharan too. We became friends and while working together developed a healthy respect for each other. Given this, the co-writing arrangement turned out to be a rather satisfying collaboration, I must say. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Mahabharata in Rajneeti - its concept and its significance<BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>The Mahabharata lends itself very appropriately to a premise like ours. After all, Mahabharata was about politics and the struggle for the right to rule. To power. And that is also what, in a way, electoral politics is all about. </span>