Somen Mishra, Mumbai: He is the man who made the maximum number of headlines this year for not directing a film.

Amole Gupte, the man who was directing Taare Zameen Par before actor Aamir Khan took over as the director, has now moved to his second project and this time its again with children.

Practicing for a musical show he's conducting with the students of Juhu's Beasant Montessori School later this week, Amole feels most at home when he's among children.

A painter and an actor by profession, Amole went to college with Aamir, and even acted with him in a few films including Holi and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.

It was natural then for him to approach his superstar friend when he conceived the story of Taare Zameen Par and decided to direct it.

Revealing that much of the story and some of the characters in the film are inspired by people and incidents close to him, Amole admits this story may never have seen the light of day if it weren't for Aamir.

"The baby lives and gets its sunshine primarily because Aamir being the actor who is the catalyst. He is playing shades of me. What I do in my life, I tried to live and put it as the character, which he is playing.

I am just playing a shraddhanjali (tribute) to my art teacher and principal Mr RS Nikumb, that’s the character's name which Aamir is playing," Amole says.

Much has been written already about Aamir's dissatisfaction with Amole's direction, and their mutual decision for the actor to take over the director's reins midway through the shoot.

Having already spoken about his disappointment at being shortchanged by his friend, Amole seems tired of repeating himself over and over again.

"Of course I do have a whole lot of material and trauma and things but it’s all buried. TZP is for children and let’s not deviate from that issue.

I have been able to successfully answer my reflections in the mirror and have confidently survived a crisis, the worst possible in my life, am a happy man today. I don’t need to answer anybody on anything. I only have to give my good wishes to the film and Aamir," Amole says.

Credited as writer and creative director of Taare Zameen Par, Amole has moved on to his next project. This time, however, he's determined to his act together and remain firmly in the director's seat.