During our childhood, my sister and I had no birthday parties. We would take a packet of sweets to school and distribute it to our class-mates. That was it. We were not allowed to go to parties, either.
— Sanjay Leela Bhansali
I work like a dog.
I gave everything I had to give to 'Devdas.' I knew I would never make a better love story because there is none.
When I make a film about a physically challenged person, I come away with so much. I learn to value what I have. My survival instinct sharpened after 'Black' and 'Guzaarish.'
There is no such thing as human perfection, and yet when you hear Lataji sing, you wonder how she sang that song so beautifully, so perfectly. Or, how Kumar Gandharva touched your soul so powerfully.
I am trying to pursue excellence.
I remember during 'Devdas,' people told me that they had seen 'Devdas' before, so what would be so different about this one. But I was convinced with the subject, and that is what drove me.
Though all festivals are important, this Cannes Festival starts off the season.
With 'Bajirao Mastani,' we have created history.
'Devdas' isn't a real film. It isn't in the same genre as Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding,' where the camera's presence is so understated it almost disappears.
Of course, an Oscar nomination would have added considerably to the film's business abroad. But it has already made nearly Rs 150 crore. It has done stupendous business overseas. We did a business of Rs 80 crore when we took 'Devdas' to Cannes.
I just wish one of the big American studios had bought 'Devdas.' They would have pitched the film for the Oscars in a big way, like Miramax did with the Chinese film 'Hero.'
A man is not capable of giving the way a woman gives. She is stronger. When a woman sacrifices, it lends her grace and beauty.
It is absolutely important to balance stars with newcomers so the whole chemistry and ambience between people who have never worked before becomes far more explosive and exciting.
I don't want to plan my career. That would be a business plan. Filmmaking is not a business plan.
Once a film is selected at Cannes, the crossover becomes very easy, thanks to the prestige and dignity it gains at Cannes.
The film industry functions on fraternal feelings. If there is a problem, we solve it in-house.
I never believed in birthday parties.
Bad behaviour on TV is quite nauseating and putting off.
Many people ask me why I chose to remake 'Devdas.' I wanted to make a film that celebrated grandeur and grace.
As long as what you do reaches out to people, I don't think there's any reason to stop yourself from doing anything.
My soul needs music all the time.
It's been a journey of great stress and awakening. I have given my blood sweat and tears to 'Padmavati.'
Take any movie from 'Khamoshi' to 'Black,' I was always clear about my subjects.
The Cannes Film Festival is the biggest, most prestigious film festival in the world. This is where filmmakers are discovered, where futures are made, and the most important films premiered.
'Ramleela' is my most violent film.
I am extremely proud that our cinema is being recognised in the West. I want Indian cinema to get its dignity, not by giving them the kind of films they expect from us, but by making cinema in a way that carries the legacy of the mainstream masters forward.
I don't think international cinema is ready to embrace mainstream Indian cinema unconditionally. Even Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding' didn't get to the Oscars after being nominated for the Golden Globe Awards.
Western music is alien to my ears.
The equality of men and women is not possible because both are different. A mountain is a mountain, and a river is a river.
You can do a formula film and walk the conventional path, but it may not work at all.
It is very difficult for anyone to predict how a film will do. It depends on so many things: the mood of the audience, the state of their mind at the time, how they have reacted to the whole treatment.
The first film that I saw of Shammi Kapoor was 'Bhramachari.' I instantly fell in love with the film and connected with Shammiji. His style was natural and unique.
The media should be ready to cover every event at the Oberois' residence. If Vivek's dog has dysentery tomorrow, we should be prepared to hear Vivek talk about it on camera for three hours.
I feel it is important to respect contestants on national TV, celebrity or not.
'Jhalak' was a wonderful experience, but it was important for me to get back to films, since I am a director too.
I've met quadriplegics who have lost the use of their limbs but not their spirit. They are not dark, defeated people.
I'm petrified of facing the camera. Even to shoot for a photograph is an ordeal. But it's important to break free of your inhibitions at some point in your life.
Think of Hridaynath Mangeshkar's 'Mira bhajans.' I have bought these records three to four times, as I listen to them so often.
People don't want to always see a comedy or an action film. If the film in a particular genre is made well, then it will see its share of success.
I have always chosen subjects which are little different, and not subjects that you see. That challenges me and the actors who work in the project.
'Devdas' is the first Hindi commercial film to be seen at Cannes. And 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' is getting a whole lot of appreciation abroad. I'm pleased.
I was criticised for making 'Devdas' so ostentatious. But stark and realistic cinema isn't the only real cinema in this country.
My 'Devdas' was a tribute to all the mainstream masters, from Mehboob Khan, K. Asif, and V. Shantaram to Raj Kapoor. I am not saying critics shouldn't have criticised my film. But they should have judged the film within the genre and format that I had chosen.
I am distressed when I see news channels saying 'Devdas' has let down the country by not getting an Oscar nomination.
My mother is special to me. She understands me. She has no expectations from me.
The multiplexes audience has one way of thinking. When they are all sitting together temperamentally, there is room for a filmmaker to reach out to a far larger audience in a comfortable way.
What's life without risks? When I made 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,' everybody said in India you can never have a husband say that I am uniting my wife with her lover. The male audience would reject it, and it is a male audience and hero-oriented industry.
I think caring too much about the economics starts affecting the creative aspect of the film. That is a dangerous process for a filmmaker. He should make his film without having to worry about how much it has cost or how much it will be sold for.
There is dignity in being a celebrity. Let us not lose that dignity.
