Audience appreciation is greatest award: Ketan Mehta

National award-winning filmmaker Ketan Mehta, who is known for his unconventional and unorthodox movies, says he doesn't believe much in awards and recognition.

"There is nothing in awards, the audience should like the movie, that is the greatest award for any filmmaker," said Ketan.

His latest biopic, "Manjhi - The Mountain Man", which is based on the life of Dashrath Manjhi, who worked tirelessly for 22 years to rip apart a mountain to create a road to ease the travel woes of villagers, was leaked a month before its release but that did not upset the filmmaker.

"The leaked part was of the fake and older version and absolutely different. It is really a sad thing and a wrong thing. Due to piracy, producers and other technicians who have worked very hard are discouraged. Strict action must be taken against the wrong doers," he further added.

Speaking about the movie, Mehta said: "This story of a mountain and a man will look effective on the big screen only and not on your laptops screens".

Speaking about the changes in technology, the director said it is important to "strike a balance."

"It is important to strike a balance. With new technology will come new complication and challenges and we will have to beat the challenges," he said.

The film starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte released this Friday.