By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

The guy who managed to mix Indian history with the contemporary reality of politics in "Rang De Basanti" (RDB) has managed a rather strange mix of another kind in his own life.

Says Rakeysh Mehra: "I'm down with typhoid and malaria. Strange, I know, and very very depleting. In fact, I went to the Filmfare awards on Saturday night in this condition. The awards really lifted my spirits. Finally I felt complete during an awards function," he said referring to RDB bagging the best film and best director awards.

"How can the two awards be bifurcated (as they have been in other recent popular awards)? I think 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' is a really heart-warming film. I'd have been very happy to see it win both the awards, for the best film and the best direction. But to give one to each is nothing but an attempt to try and please the maximum number of nominees," Mehra told IANS.

"Awards are a serious matter and we cannot reduce them to a farce. What really hurt was my wife Bharati being denied the editing award at other functions. Her work with the scissors was of undisputable quality. More than my winning both the major awards I'm happy for her."

About his much talked-about next project, "'Delhi 6' is now in the process of being re-scripted. The casting will happen only after we finish the writing."

So all the talk about Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar are baseless? "At the moment, yes, absolutely baseless. The way the script is going the casting for the lead might turn out to be an absolute surprise."