Q & A - Madhur bhandarkar Filmmaker
Heroine will give Kareena what she deserves
Madhur Bhandarkar on coming a long way from being a video delivery boy, on testing new genres and believing that Kareena will eventually come around to act in Heroine
It was not an easy decision to make. While some have been saying that I shouldn't get into other genres of cinema, others say that it's time for a change. I have always considered myself as an experimental filmmaker and this is another one of my experiments. Actors who have worked with me will vouch for my sense of humour. More often than not, I have them in splits on my sets. In fact, Tabu (who starred in Chandni Bar) used to always ask me why I hadn't directed a comedy yet.
• After dropping out from school you even worked as a delivery boy for a video library. Did you ever think that you'll get this far?
Honestly, no. God has given me more than I asked for. I guess it has been a mixture of hard work and luck. I think I am God's blessed child. And I am not going to get carried away.
• Your male-oriented films, Traffic, Signal and Jail, don't do particularly well. Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji too is male-oriented. Are you nervous?
I am nervous. But that happens with me before the release of any of my films. Think of it, isn't it early days to say that Madhur Bhandarkar makes only good female-oriented films? I don't jump into making films just for the heck of it. Recently I had offers to remake some top South films but I didn't see any creativity in that.
Tell me one good reason why shouldn't I attempt to make a comedy, or say, even a romcom or a thriller, as long as the characters in my film are well fleshed out? Sooner or later, I'll touch upon all genres.
• Will you cast Neil Nitin Mukesh (Jail ) and Kunal Khemu (Traffic Signal ), who seem to have lost the plot?
If I have a script for them, why not? I don't cast actors as per their market status. Didn't I cast Samir Soni, Arjun Bajwa and Arbaaz Khan in Fashion despite people's apprehensions? Again if you see, I have three newcomers in Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji : Shruti Hassan, Shazahn Padamsee and Shraddha Das, whose debut films have flopped.
• Perhaps budgetary constraints might have resulted in this benevolence in casting.
Yes, I do make films within a stipulated budget. I never spend too much, I don't overshoot. My homework is very strong. Even Jail broke even.
• Your next female-oriented film Heroine is stuck. Kareena Kapoor is latkofying you...
Kareena and I have not been in touch. She has been very busy with RA.One and Agent Vinod. But we are going to meet soon.
• She's ditched you with Page 3 and Fashion as well...
• What happened to that biopic on Lalit Modi called Commissioner ?
Things didn't work out. Besides, the Lalit Modi controversy would have been too hot to handle.
• You have always been a ladies' man. We're disappointed to not have heard of any link-ups. Have you really changed or are you a smoother operator now?
(Laughs) Today, I am very happy the way I am living my life. Do I really need to answer this question?
• All the more...
Un dino, meri shaadi nahin hui thi. And people just perceived me that way. (laughs again).
Health and Fitness
9