Madhur Bhandarkar: I was almost mobbed at Tundey’s in Aminabad

PEOPLE IN LUCKNOW LOVE MY FILMS
National Award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar had a fruitful visit to Lucknow last weekend. Bhandarkar was in town for the promotion of his film Calendar Girls and also walked the ramp for his friend and fashion designer, Manish Tripathi, who is from Lucknow. “I had no plans of coming to Lucknow. But then Manish said, ‘Bhaiya, why don’t you come to Lucknow for the show’, and I said ‘Why not’!” shares Madhur, who also met UP Governor Ram Naik and CM Akhilesh Yadav.Telling us about the meeting with the CM, Madhur says, “I met Akhileshji and found him to be a very sincere and knowledgeable person. He knew all about my films and told me that the UP government will give all possible help, not just to me, but to anyone from Bollywood, who wishes to make a film here.” So impressed is the director with the film policy of the state that he says he will consider making a movie in the state. “I have 3-4 subjects in mind, one of which I may shoot in Lucknow. Not just Lucknow, the whole of Uttar Pradesh is ideal for shooting a movie. It has a great culture and the language spoken here is wonderful. The locations in Lucknow are also very good. Besides, I have a good fan base here and in the past, my films have done very well in UP. So whenever I have a subject, I will definitely come to shoot here,” says the director, who didn’t miss out on savouring the famous Lakhnawi biryani and Tunday Kebabs. “I went to Aminabad and had Tunday Kebabs and biryani. To my surprise, everyone there recognised me and I was almost mobbed there,” says Madhur.
READ: 'Calendar Girls' gets no takers from Pakistan as distributors reportedly refuse the film
A SUBJECT-DRIVEN DIRECTOR
Madhur’s fascination for movies pertaining to topical issues is well known, be it Page 3, Traffic Signal, Fashion, Corporate or Jail. “See, people have their own interpretations. They think Madhur makes films only to expose things like society, Bollywood or the fashion industry. But the fact is, I show the brutal reality. I show the facts. And why not? When people can read or talk about it or see it on TV, why can’t I show it in my films? As a filmmaker, I have a journalistic instinct in me. When I see an interesting subject, I want to know more about it and make a film on it,” says Bhandarkar.
MY CRAFT SHOULD NOT SUFFER
A fatwa was issued in Pakistan last week against his upcoming film Calendar Girls, which alleged that one of the characters had spoken dialogues criticising Pakistan. Following the fatwa, the film might even be banned in Pakistan. Speaking about the issue, he says, “My film was made in just 41 days, so one can imagine how much hard work has gone into it. When such a thing happens, one feels their hard work is not being appreciated. I know I have a lot of fans in Pakistan through the comments I get on social media. Whenever I go to London, America and Dubai and I meet Pakistanis, they always praise my films. So, it’s important for me that my film and my art is shown there. So it’s not about money. My art should reach my fans who are there,” says Bhandarkar.
A FILM on IPL NEXT?
IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla was also present at the fashion show in the city which Madhur was a part of. Is there a film based on the IPL in the making, we wonder? “No! There’s nothing like that,” laughs Madhur, adding, “India mein koi bhi kaand hota hai and people think Madhur will make a movie on it. Radhey Maa ka case hua toh Madhur will make a movie on it, or Indrani Mukerjea ka case hua toh Madhur will make a movie on that. But no, I’m not making a film on IPL or cricket yet. Waise there is an IPL and cricket angle in this film of mine too.”
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LISTEN: Songs of Calendar Girls on Gaana.com
WATCH: Pakistan issues a Fatwa against Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Calendar Girls'-TOI