Mumbai, Jul 10 (IANS): Filmmaker Onir is confident that gradually mainstream actors will open up to off-beat cinema too.

"Films like 'Gangs of Wasseypur', and 'Shanghai' have become famous. It is not comedy, but serious cinema which portrays our society," Onir told IANS, adding such films highlight "serious issues" and "have been accepted".

"'Gangs of Wasseypur' did not have big Bollywood stars but slowly it did open up. It's great that people are accepting these films and slowly stars will open up to the non-mainstream cinema too," he added.

Onir has made serious issue-based cinema - "My Brother...Nikhil" and "I AM",

Asked if ever he felt hesitant about bringing up issues of homosexuality and AIDS in the limelight, the answer was, "No".

"I have never been hesitant about the stories I wanted to tell. I think this is important and this is what pushes you. It's all around us. It's not that people don't know," he added.