I knew I couldn't be starry-eyed as a filmmaker: Nagraj Manjule on directing Amitabh Bachchan in Jhund

Nagraj Manjule will make his Hindi debut this week with the release of his much-anticipated flick Jhund. The film, which stars Amitabh Bachchan, is based on the life of Vijay Barse, the founder of the NGO Slum Soccer. The filmmaker explained why he chose to make the film in Hindi and work with Amitabh Bachchan in an interview with Mid-Day.

Jhund started in 2017, but the producers pulled out before producer Bhushan Kumar could restart it in 2018. When it comes to the challenging period, Manjule said, 

"I learnt the ability to power through this phase. Sometimes, things fall apart for the better. We had a set in Pune that we had to pull down. But it turned out to be (an advantage) as we eventually shot in Nagpur, where the story is originally set. Sometimes, I would get worried, but I had that zidd to make the film. I wouldn’t get the chance to work with Bachchan sir again. More than that, I had shown a dream to the kids, and I couldn’t take that away from them."  

Manjule stated, explaining why he decided to make the film in Hindi,

"I met him and his students in Nagpur when the film first came to me. The reason I made Jhund in Hindi is because his students come from across the country. Cinema is a language in itself, and I knew I had to bring the soul of their stories into my narrative." 

Nagraj Manjule admits to being star-struck when working with Big B. The Sairat director recalled his first interaction with the megastar, the Sairat maker said, 

“I’ve been a huge fan since I was a kid. But as a director, I knew I couldn’t be starry-eyed. I had to remind myself that I am making a movie with him." 

Jhund hits theatres on 4 March, 2022.