Mumbai: Director Deepa Mehta says John Abraham surrendered to his character in Water without hesitation, while there was constant friction with her leading man Aamir Khan during the making of 1947: Earth.

"Aamir felt I wasn't allowing him to interpret the role properly. Today, after the release of Water, there's a huge revival of interest in Earth. John surrendered to my interpretation of his character unquestioningly. Aamir wasn't happy doing the role the way I wanted to. Aamir's performance is being widely noticed. I think Earth came too soon," Mehta.

The Canada based Indian filmmaker's Water, featuring Lisa Ray, Seema Biswas and John playing the main leads, was in the running for the Oscars in the best foreign language film category. However,on Monday at the 79th Academy Awards in Los Angeles Canada's official entry in the best foreign film category lost out to Germany's The Lives of Others.

Mehta felt the film, which depicts the tragic existence of widows in the early 1930s, doesn't need any promotion.

"It's already released commercially in the US Even the DVD is out," she said.

One of the first people to call Mehta after Water made it to the Oscars' shortlist was John.

"He was as excited as a school kid. Frankly, I'm also ecstatic." Mehta had said. "I can't believe 'Water' has come so far. It's actually made it to the final five nominations! What really makes me happy is the competition. This year's other nominations are of an exceptionally high calibre."

Prior to the event Mehta said, "It's a Canadian film. But it's in Hindi and therefore as Indian as it's Canadian. Will it finally win? I don't know. The fact that I'll be able to walk the red carpet at the Oscars with 'Water' and its cast is enough for me. I never thought 'Water' would come so far. This was a film that almost didn't get made."

Mehta doesn't have any regrets that the film couldn't be made in Varanasi. Water ran into trouble in 1999 when she tried to shoot it in Varanasi. Hindu rightwing activists violently opposed the film by burning the sets. The director was forced to shelve it and she later shot the film in Sri Lanka.

"I feel the film would've been different in texture if it was shot in Varanasi. However, finally I'm glad I made it in Sri Lanka. My vision was tranquil and comfortable."

"I didn't have to have tea with dozens of politicians just to ensure my next day's shooting," remarks Mehta, alluding to the political interference that finally stopped Water in Varanasi.