India, June 17 -- Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali believes the 1981 cult movie Umrao Jaan, based on Mirza Hadi Ruswa's novel, should not be reinterpreted. As the film prepares for a re-release in theatres later this month, he admits he wouldn't even attempt to remake it. "Rekha is not easy to find! You don't people with such commitment - what she did, no one else can do today. Every person in the film was as real as Rekha, and she, too, became part of that milieu. It reflected in everything: Shahryar's lyrics, Khayyam's music, Kumudini Lakya's choreography, Asha Bhosle's playback singing, the characterisation, the actors, the cinematography, and the costumes. Everything was crafted in layers," he says. Muzaffar adds, "The film has reached such a level that anything new should surpass it. Films aren't made just with budgets; they're made with commitment and passion. I haven't felt that same passion again, and even I wouldn't redo it. Closure is important - you can't make it better than this. It can't be recreated. Others have tried and failed, so why should I? Instead, I'd rather tell new stories with the same passion." The film has been restored in 4K by the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). On the release date (June 27), he will also launch his coffee table book, featuring archival pictures and write-ups, including contributions from Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah....