I had no trouble directing myself," says Aamir Khan, who turns director with Taare Zameen Par. "Because the actor and director in me wanted the same thing, to bring to the screen a brilliant screenplay. It wasn't that the actor Aamir and director Aamir were wearing different hats."

"My one big concern was to direct the children," he continues. "There are 40 of them, and for someone who is very fond of children, my challenge was to make them feel at home and get natural performances from them."

"I was anxious that the children should be at ease throughout the shoot," he says. "I was also aware that many of them are star-struck. So my big challenge was to break the ice. I did it partly by telling them jokes. Within an hour, we were laughing like we had known each other for a long time. In no time, I ceased to be Aamir the star for them. Instead, I became their ring leader!"