“Those who fly solo have the strongest wings.” Well, at least that’s the case for filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar who has been in the entertainment industry for 25 years. The Padma Shri recipient, whose films often reflect the reality of women in today’s society, has never been part of a group or camp in B-town. The reason behind him being solo is rather a shocking experience from his past.
Amitting that groupism is a “100 percent reality” in the industry that exists more than nepotism, he was quoted saying by HT, “A lot of people ask me today ‘How did you stay away from camps, or any form of lobbying?’. My first film, Trishakti flopped, and I got a ringside view of people, how they desert you, and don’t want to talk to you. They feel ‘Film flopped, yeh manhoos hai’. It could be anyone an actor or director, the tone and texture of their personality changes. This industry is very cruel.”
Belonging to a middle-class family, the 51-year-old revealed he faced many hardships after his directorial debut tanked at the box office. “The minute Trishakti bombed, people who used to take my calls — they were not even big people — they simply disappeared. They were suddenly nowhere. It was difficult for me to again get a foothold. People advise you ‘Your career is over’. My professional obituary was written that day.”
Apart from the barrage of criticism, the director received some advice too. He was quoted saying,
“I was told to go back and work with Ram Gopal Varma (who I worked with in Rangeela), my parents told me, ‘Why didn’t you stay in Dubai when you had gone there?’. The blows came from all sectors. It was shocking for me, what to do at that point when I thought my career was completely over.”
Shedding some light on the on-going nepotism debate, the critically acclaimed director who has made hard-hitting movies like ‘Page 3’ and ‘Fashion’ said, “Insiders get more chances, that is the edge people get when you belong to a lineage or the film fraternity. You get respect. If not success, at least access is there, because of a father, brother, mom or uncle who’s successful.”
Recounting the humiliation he faced during the two years before his second breakthrough ‘Chandni Bar’, he added, “I remember going to parties, and nobody used to talk to me. I used to tag along with somebody, some small-time secretary, saying ‘Mujhe bhi le chalo’, because I had to approach people. People didn’t pick calls, so at least you could talk there. Nobody sent me invitations. But I’m a fighter, you push me back, I’ll bounce again.”
Hats off to the director for his resilience. Honestly, it’s a privilege to watch his remarkable films.