"Right now I'm working on Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Jodha-Akbar'. I also have Shankar's 'Shivaji' with Rajnikant in Tamil. It's one of my biggest projects. But that's it. I'd rather not do more film projects because I've the reputation of being tardy to live up to.

"I also have two albums ready for release on my own label. One is a classical Hindustani album by Ghulam Mustafa Khan, his sons and students. The other is a more contemporary theme."

In the coming year Rahman has several international plans.

"If the Oscar for my RDB and 'Water' songs happens, I'll have to find time for things to do abroad. Then there's Mani's 'Lajjo', which takes me to a totally different territory."