Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor finally did after all release on the 25th of January and it goes without saying that the audiences have loved and appreciated the film. The film is breaking records and the box office too! Speaking to a leading daily recently, the filmmaker had much to say about his recently-released film ‘Padmaavat’ and about how he felt through the whole controversy surrounding it.
When asked how content and relieved he feels after ‘Padmaavat’s’ release, Bhansali said, "I feel extremely good. When you fight a battle for a year-and-a-half, it’s a really long time. It’s not something that you think anybody would go through to create a film in any part of the world. It was my biggest test but my commitment to the film was resolute. In such situations, you are always thinking, ‘Should I give up, or stand up and fight? Amidst all the angst, fear and humiliation, how do you sustain a fight for one-and-a-half years?’ It took all of my 24 years’ experience – from ‘1942: A Love Story’ to now – and the fact that I loved this film to get it through. It is like climbing the Himalayas. There will be storms and avalanches, but it’s the part of it (the journey)."
When questioned on how he coped with the controversy and didn’t get bogged down, he said, “If you love something more than yourself in life, then it doesn’t matter. I don’t know anything else. I don’t know how to use a computer, how to drive, or even to change the batteries. I only know how to make a film. That is one thing I live and die for. I don’t want money or fame. It all felt like someone was attacking my child and I was just nurturing my film. Come what may, I was going to give my everything for this film and not let anyone effect what I wanted to do."
On completing 25 years in Bollywood, “I hope they don’t give me a lifetime achievement award,” he joked and continued saying, “It’s been tough for me. I have not been given even one day’s respite. All these years, I have just slogged, fought through, and it’s been climbing up a straight mountain. It has been very tiring, adventurous, but also great fun. I have had beautiful experiences in the industry and have met great people over the years. In fact, I have also accepted some of the disagreements over my work nicely."
Well, we just hope he continues making the films he makes.
