Mumbai, Oct 3 (IANS): Pia Benegal says that if she had followed in her father, master craftsman Shyam Benegal's footsteps, she would not have been able to create her own identity.

"I had considered direction in the beginning. But the moment I decided to direct films, people started saying, 'So here comes another Shyam Benegal'," Pia, who chose to be a costume designer, told IANS.

"I don't think I could have made my own identity had I been a director. People would have always compared me to my father," she added.

Shyam Benegal, who has been active in filmdom for over five decades and went behind the camera to make short films, documentaries and movies, has an ouevre of work that boasts of highly acclaimed films such as "Bhumika", "Junoon", "Mandi", Arohan" and "Sardari Begum".

"I am passionate about films but not as much as my father is, so I chose to do something different," said Pia.

She designs clothes for her father's projects as well as others.

"More than anything else what matters is your passion. I enjoy what I do. I have been the costume designer for my father's films and I also design for other directors as well," she said.