Define the role of women in your life that has clearly rubbed onto the fierce and fearless female protagonists your films signify. Not only does it help me as a filmmaker to understand emotions on a deeper level, this self-awareness also makes me a better person.Ī SLB heroine is unapologetic about her dreams, ambitions and sexuality. It is my awareness of my own limitations that can help me in overcoming them - both as a filmmaker and a person. My biggest life lesson has been unabashed self-awareness. Is there anything about yourself that you would like to change going forward? Any lesson learnt? When I am on the set, it is my sacred sanctuary and I treat it with the highest regard and expect the same from everyone who is working with me on that project. I don’t take creative conflicts personally.
At the end of the day, it is their lens that they are looking through and I cannot control what they see through that lens all I can do is satisfy my unending passion for filmmaking. It is mostly my passion that people misunderstand and give me the tag of a taskmaster. Till I am satisfied with what I want on the floor, I cannot go ahead and shoot my scene. I leave no stone unturned to bring to life exactly what I see in my mind’s eye. I make my movies with all my heart and soul. How do you look back at your celebrated, but tumultuous journey and brush with controversies? Being headstrong about your vision is often looked upon as a sign of rebellion. You are known as a taskmaster, and a passionate filmmaker who is okay parting ways with actors who find your process a tad exhausting, and you continue to stand by what you believe in.
More than anything else, it is this irreplaceable spark that keeps my filmmaking drive alive. An empty studio to me is what a blank canvas is to a painter. Till date, every single time I set foot on a film set, I get goosebumps. What drives you to make films even today? Talk us through your evolution as a filmmaker. They are the real backbone of my movies and it is this fabulous team of people who make the final product that you see on screen. This journey would not have been the same without them and I would like to thank every technician, actor, artist, writer, producer and assistant director that has been with me through all the nine films I have made so far. I have had the great fortune of working with wonderful people and fantastic talents. These handmade films would not have been possible without the effort of every person behind the movie who has put in their hard work. That is why I like to call them ‘handmade films’. It has been an incredible 25 years, indeed! In all the movies I have made so far, every moment has been heartfelt - the colours you see on the wall, the songs, the background, every thread on every costume, every dialogue, the lighting, every carving and architecture had a lot of thought that went into it. Over the years, you redefined yourself through lavish portrayals of historicals, but what continues to lie at the heart of your storytelling? A nuanced, heartfelt film that defined you as a filmmaker. Khamoshi: The Musical released 25 years ago. In conversation with Bombay Times, he looks back at his fascinating journey and what lies ahead. His debut film as a director - Khamoshi: The Musical, released 25 years ago on August 9 and thereon, it has been a daring dream run for the director, widely respected for his artistic vision and pursuit of excellence. Sanjay Leela Bhansali doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to capturing human emotions and presenting them in the most visually enchanting manner. His characters exude uninhibited passion and desire. His movie canvas and splendour can transcend time. In some of my female characters, you will only see a glimpse of my mother, whereas characters like Leela in Ram-Leela are fully reminiscent of her” “I have magnified my image of my mother a billion-fold and projected her on to my canvas.