- Born
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali is among the most celebrated Film Makers of the Bollywood. Having worked with the biggest stars of Indian Film Industry, Bhansali is the most sought-for director of the Bollywood. He started his career as an assistant director to Vidhu Vinod Chopra. If one has to name his 'niche' genre, it would definitely be Mega-Musicals. From Devdas to Bajirao Mastani, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to Saawariya, love of cinema and music, proclaims through every movie he writes or direct.
His 1999 Romantic-Drama, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, starring heartthrob duo Salman-Aishwarya became one of the most critically cherished movies of the Genre. Amitabh Bachan, starrer Black was equally appreciated by the critics. But he made his presence felt with 2002 adaptation of the Hindi literary masterpiece, Devdas, for a silver-screen experience. He received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at BAFTA for the movie.
Devdas has become a name synonymous with a passionate, intense love that does not find consummation. This similar theme has been repeated numerous time in the literary work. And one of them is Romeo & Juliet. He translated this classic tale into Indian Folk Idiom.- IMDb Mini Biography By: James(Mohit) - Sanjay Leela Bhansali ('SLB'), one of the most celebrated Film Makers in India has worked with eminent talent of the Indian film industry. His films celebrate the roots of Indian music and the scale of his films mounts his cinematic vision. In a career spanning across 3 decades, he has been bestowed with prestigious awards for his body of work. SLB has been awarded the national award five times and his film BLACK broke all records by being the first film to win 11 Filmfare awards, the most popular film award in India.
Devdas, an adaptation of Hindi literary masterpiece won over both audiences and critics. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002. In 2003, it was nominated for the BAFTA as the Best Foreign Language Film and was India's submission for the Academy Awards as Best Foreign Language Film category. It stood eighth in Time magazine's "The 10 Greatest Movies of the Millennium".
Black, inspired by the life of Helen Keller starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji, stood fifth in Time (Europe)'s "10 Best Movies of the Year 2005" amongst films from across the world.
In 2008, Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed the opera Padmavati, an adaption of the 1923 ballet written by Albert Roussel. The first show premiered in Paris at the prestigious Théâtre du Châtelet and the next at the Festival dei Due Mondi.
Since 2010, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been composing music for his own films. In addition to being on popular music charts, it has also won him a lot of appreciation and hearts. And in 2019, he was felicitated with national award for the best music for his film Padmaavat.
He diversified into film production under the banner Bhansali Productions and has several popular films to his credit.
In 2015, he was awarded the Padma Shri, fourth highest civilian award of India for his contribution to Indian Cinema.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Archana Malpani
- ParentsNavin BhansaliD. O BhansaliLeela Bhansali
- RelativesBela Segal(Sibling)Sharmin Segal(Niece or Nephew)
- His work has passionate (and often damaged) individuals reaching out to each other over great distances to connect with each other.
- His films often feature emotional pain and trauma being exprienced by his protagonists.
- Dedicates all his films to his deceased father
- Conceives his films in a unique fashion - he designs the film soundtrack first and then creates the film.
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali always wanted to direct Fardeen Khan in a film. He had a written a small role for him in Black but later decided to scrap it. He always felt there was untapped talent and huge potential in Fardeen Khan.
- In 2015, he was awarded the fourth highest Indian civilian honor, the Padma Shri. Another addition to his honor tally along with his four National Awards and Six Filmfare Awards.
- After Khamoshi, Bhansali had plans to make the film "Train To Pakistan" with Bobby Deol. The film ended up being made by someone else for unknown reasons.
- Frequently sneaks scenes from his life into his films.
- At the premiere of Black (2005): Until recently I didn't even have a proper office. I've just a couple of staffers, hence my agitation and anxiety at the premiere. I single-handedly sent out all the invitations, called up every person individually and made sure they were all there at the premiere. I agree this isn't the way for me to function. But I'm basically a middle class boy from the chawls. I can't bring myself to trust others to do my work.
- Black for you may be darkness; for me it is a universal truth. Our best ideas come from the darkness of the mind; every new life is created in the darkness of the womb...
- On disabled children: The physically challenged are not children of a lesser god. They're far more beautiful than the so-called normal people. They appreciate every shade of life, like my protagonist in Black (2005). She's a true-blue hero.
- Deep down, the disadvantaged are angry with life. They want to see/hear/talk, but are constantly groping in the dark. They are so insecure about communication that there is a whole surrender in it. They get angry over the smallest of things! Imagine the frustrations of not being fully understood...anger is an important part of their expression.
- About Alzheimer's disease: The idea of forgetting...things, names, persons...terrifies me. When I forget a little thing, it is an absolute trauma until it comes back to me again. All of us have these lapses of memory - what if memory doesn't return?
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