Filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor, whose latest release 'Lakshmi' opened to rave reviews, says he never desired to work with a star primarily because it's a tedious process considering the date issues.

Except for working with John Abraham in 'Aashayein' (2010) and Akshay Kumar in '8x10 Tasveer' (2009) Nagesh has never worked with big stars. Commercially, both the films did not do well at the box office.

"I don't have material that can appeal to a star. But even if I get that (idea or story) to put together a project with a star it is a longish process and I am someone who never has that kind of patience or persistence," Kukunoor told PTI.

"In my case, when I decided to work with Akshay it just happened it's not like I worked my way to work with Akshay. I made seven films without a star before I actually did one with so it is actually never been my desire to work with a star," he said.

But the filmmaker did express his interest in making a masala films.

"I want to make a masala movie but it doesn't mean it will happen quickly. So, if I say I want to make a masala film I may at the most be able to stretch it to what a Hrishikesh Mukherjee did, that you have commercial elements with his touch," Kukunoor said.

Ask him if he does enjoy watching masala films like 'Rowdy Rathore', 'Dabangg', Kukunoor said, "'Dabanng' was in my top three films of that year. I grew up on a lot of these dishoom dishoom movies. It ('Dabangg') had a wonderful story structure. If commercial cinema is told like this, I absolutely love it."

Kukunoor's 'Lakshmi', starring singer-turned actress Monali Thakur in the lead, released last week on March 21.