There is still a long way to go: Bhansali

He was involved with the making of Parinda (1989 ) and 1942: A Love Story (1994) before making his directorial debut with Khamoshi: The Musical (1996). And although Sanjay Leela Bhansali has gone on to become one of the most revered filmmakers in Bollywood, he says there’s a long journey ahead. “There’s still a long way to go and lot more to travel [as a filmmaker]. So, I need to find all the energies again and be like, ‘now, the second phase starts’,” he says.

The Padmaavat director admits that things are “going to be even more difficult” but he “will not give up”. He adds, “The net practice has taken place for 24 years and now, I am ready to play the actual match (laughs). I have loved being in this industry, and made the films that I wanted to without worrying about how commercially successful they will be. Instead, I was always worried about, ‘will it be artistically successful or not?’ or ‘will I be understood [by people] or not?’”

Bhansali goes on to call his film journey “great fun”. “In the past 24 years, I have been the most alive filmmaker. No one gets so much love, hate or even jealousy (laughs),” says the Bajirao Mastani (2015) director, adding that it’s the “audiences that makes my films special”.

He says, “I feel they have a great connection with me as I always get a phenomenal response. So on one hand, if I am cursed in many ways that I have to go through so many things, I also feel blessed. So, while some love [my work] and others hate it but they all react to it. And that is wonderful. I want them to criticise the film, too. However, it should be subjective and constructive criticism.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali calls himself ‘the most alive’ filmmaker