‘Some films explore, my films expose!’ Continuing our section which gets into the filmmaker’s mind ...says the National award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar whose films — despite being hard-hitting and realistic in nature — have been hitting jackpot at the BO

‘Some films explore, my films expose!’

Continuing our section which gets into the filmmaker’s mind

...says the National award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar whose films — despite being hard-hitting and realistic in nature — have been hitting jackpot at the BO

His films are synonymous with words like hard-hitting, realistic and also National Awards. But director Madhur Bhandarkar (best known for Chandni Bar, Page 3, Corporate, Fashion among others) reveals that when he sets out to make a film, all he has on his mind is telling a story on the big screen in a way that would instantly connect with the audience. “The rest all are perks, that I appreciate, but don’t let them become my driving factors,” he says. In a candid tete-a-tete with After Hrs, the director talks about his success run and also his latest offering Heroine with Kareena Kapoor Your films rarely leave the premise of realism… I see so many stories happen around me all the time, waiting to be told, that I don’t feel the need to venture out to create a fantasy world. And there’s no bigger connect for audiences than to see a story that is based on what they see happening around them. So, you are not looking to give out a social message? My films are a reflection, not a solution. If I choose, I can make my hero-heroines solve it all in true filmi style, but that’s not what happens in real life, does it. I choose to give my films a real ending over giving out social messages or being preachy. Some films explore subjects, my films expose them! Your film Heroine is based on the film industry, so won’t it rub a lot of people here the wrong way? I have always had people getting upset about the realism in my films, be it Page 3, Traffic Signal,Corporate or Fashion, but even they realise that I am not targetting them. It’s a film at the end of the day, not a mud-slinging attempt. The film’s already had its share of controversies too, what with the replacements and all… And I hope that it’s had its fill too, so hopefully there won’t be any in the days to come now (laughs). Kareena mentioned that the film was in her destiny and she’s come a full circle with this one… After watching her in the film, I’m sure the audience will agree with her too. Kareena is pure dynamite on camera! You are one of the few filmmakers whose films have been able to achieve both, critical acclaim and commercial success… Well, like everyone else in the business I make films hoping that they will reach the maximum audience. And in all my 11 years as a filmmaker, my only attempt has been to tell stories sincerely. Luckily, I have been able to keep it all balanced and not get carried away by either. I am not the pseudo-intellectual filmmaker types, I’m a cinema-lover like my audience. So, I don’t believe in making a statement, I let my films do that for me! You are accused of making only heroine-centric films? The story decides that for me. If I get a good story centring around a male protagonist, my next will be a hero-centric one.