They may come, and they may go -- but Gautam Rajadhyaksha goes on for ever, immaculately framing successive generations of stars and aspirants in his lens.

From his unique perspective, the ace lensman views the new generation of stars, and finds much cause for optimism.

'It is not,' he muses, 'that they are more poised, more globalised than their parents -- they are better groomed. On the flip side, their parents had a gut feel for India and Indians, that these kids have absorbed, but know only at secondhand.'

He shares a very special bond with Generation Next. 'I was shooting with Twinkle (Khanna) and Bobby (Deol) for Barsaat he recalls, 'when I looked at the youngsters and realised that time was passing me by. I began to wonder if Mickey (Contractor) and I had in fact outstayed our welcome. And out of the blue, Twinkle came up to me and whispered, 'Gautam, it is not that you have grown old, it is just that we have grown up!'