Madhur unaffected by success, failure

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I watched Heroine knowing there will be some twists and exposure to the dark realities of life, knowing fully well how a Madhur Bhandarkar film is.

In the movie when Kareena’s character exposed her intimate film with her movie star lover in order to create a controversy, only so that her upcoming movie gets recognition, it was a direct accusation at the industry, almost making it seem like this is some accepted way of life in Bollywood. What could anyone stoop to in order to get some success? Is it reality, made into a mockery to show the public that this phenomenon exists?” I asked him.
“There is an irony to life which we are all aware of. My realism is laced with drama. I am not denying that maybe I take it to different levels but there is always a ‘disclaimer clause of fiction’,” said the film-maker, who has excelled in the art of making controversial films exposing the truth in a dark way.
“Where do you get inspirations for your topics, Madhur?” I asked him. “I am a good observer. I read and travel a lot. I watch people and situations. I analyse life and stumble upon an idea. It is usually to do with truth and the reality of life infused with drama,” he said.
I agreed on the drama bit. I had criticised him when he had taken some scenes in Fashion to what I thought were extreme limits. He laughed, “Yes, I agree but give me a break, we have to make movies that sell.”
Today, Madhur is sure of his audience’s confidence in his works. “When people come to see a Madhur Bhandarkar movie, they are coming to see and watch a subject. They know there is going to be a story with a flip side. Every film-maker has a distinct style, his own formula,” he said.
“I have seen life. I have seen struggle. I have watched people change,” he adds. Madhur was a videocassette delivery boy for five years. He used to ride a bicycle to complete his chores. Coming from a middle class family and a Class VI pass, his parents worried for him. They wanted him to go to Muscat, where his sister lived, and seek a job. Nevertheless, cinema was his passion and so was reading. Madhur put all his energy, creativity and resources together and made Tri Shakti, which unfortunately for him, bombed at the box office. Nobody spoke to him nor acknowledged him after that. Madhur had faith to believe that after failure must come success.
Chandni Bar established him and his foothold in the industry. Life changed, so did people and their attitudes. “A closer introspection into the irony and hypocrisy of life allowed me to go all out with my subjects for my movies,” he confessed.
Kareena blossomed in the movie. She glowed. “Did you change the script when Aishwarya could not do your movie and when you opted for Kareena?” I asked him. “Every actor has their own trait. The story does not change, but the mood gets altered a little bit by the character the star exudes,” he said.
Again I asked him probing deeper, “Looking back, do you have regrets about the change in the star or are you happy today that Kareena did the film?” There was a pause, then he gave me the same answer he gave me a minute ago. “You are being diplomatic Madhur, that’s not an answer,” I pointed. He let out an embarrassed laugh, “Yes, you are right, I am being diplomatic.” We changed the topic. “What’s the next subject? Maybe something on high society? Page 3 is not necessarily that,” I teased him. He laughed, “I am taking a break. Taking time to feel grounded again,” said the widely travelled movie maker.
Madhur has seen failure at close quarters, so he is in no hurry to celebrate his successes. “People in this industry get carried away as it is an illusionary world. In this glamorous world of make belief, one has to stay grounded and introspect. When the limelight is taken away, sometimes people lose their mind and become desperate. Success and failure is not to be taken seriously. There
is an end to both,” said the God-fearing man who believes he is blessed and is grateful for it.