Latest news with #Khamoshi:TheMusical
India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Sanjay Leela Bhansali says there was lot of love on Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam sets
As 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' completed 26 years of release on June 18, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali said there was love in the air on the sets of the film. The director was speaking in an interview when he mentioned the magic of chemistry in the Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan starrer, who were believed to be dating each other at the time of filming. He also spoke about the possibility of a an interview with ETimes, the 62-year-old answered a question about the chemistry between Khan and Rai. Without focussing on them in his answer, Bhansali agreed that there was "love in the air", but, "not just between them; there was a lot of affection amongst all of us."He took other names and shared, "Zohra Sehgalji, Helen Aunty, Salman, Aishwarya, Vikram Gokhale, Smita Jayekar, we were like one big family." The film-maker called 'HDDCS' the most 'fulfilling experience' of shooting in his entire career. Bhansali further spoke about the possibility of a remake of 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'. He mentioned his debut film, 'Khamoshi: The Musical (YEAR), and shared that he would never make any remakes of his other films. However, he expressed his desire to work with Rai again. He said the 51-year-old was perfect as Nandini (in 'HDDCS'), and matched the vision of the character. advertisementReleased in 1999, 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' also featured Ajay Devgn in a prominent role. It was a love triangle, and featured Khan in the role of a music student who falls in love with the daughter of his teacher. The story was set in Rajasthan, and therefore, featured palaces and deserts. Apart from the chemistry, the film's songs, costumes and dialogues - everything went on to bring it cult Salman and Aishwarya were one of the most popular Bollywood couples, until the two parted ways. Aishwarya later married her 'Guru' co-star Abhishek Bachchan. They have a daughter named Watch IN THIS STORY#Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"There was love in the air": Sanjay Leela Bhansali recalls Salman Khan–Aishwarya Rai's chemistry and the family bond on 'Hum… Dil De Chuke Sanam' - Exclusive!
the grand tapestry of Indian cinema, few films have etched themselves into the cultural consciousness quite like 's 'Hum… Dil De Chuke Sanam'. Released in 1999 and starring , , and Ajay Devgn, the film wasn't just a romantic saga—it was a symphony of love, sacrifice, and visual poetry that marked Bhansali's arrival as a master of cinematic storytelling. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As the film completes 26 years, the filmmaker reflects on what made this sweeping love story timeless. From creative battles and casting perfection to the deep emotional energy that powered the film, Bhansali speaks to Etimes with rare honesty about the innocence of that era, his unshakable artistic convictions, and why Hum… Dil De Chuke Sanam remains one of the most heartfelt creations of his career. Many fans consider 'Hum… Dil De Chuke Sanam' to be your finest work. Do you agree? It's certainly my gentlest film. There's a certain innocence in the way the romance unfolds. After my first film ( Khamoshi: The Musical ) didn't do well, I wanted to create something without compromise. Hum… Dil De Chuke Sanam was that film. What do you mean by compromise in 'Khamoshi'? I was forced to shoot an alternate, happy ending due to pressure from distributors who didn't want a tragic conclusion. But with Hum… Dil De Chuke Sanam , I stood firm on the ending I had envisioned from the beginning. Was there pressure to have Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's character end up with Salman Khan instead of Ajay Devgn? Yes, there was pressure. But that's a story I'd prefer to save for another day. What was it like working with Aishwarya for the first time? She was my perfect Nandini. I couldn't have asked for a better embodiment of the character I had in mind. She matched my vision exactly—and that's a rare experience in my filmmaking journey. The chemistry between Salman and Aishwarya felt very real. Was there love in the air off-screen too? I like the way you put it—yes, there was love in the air. But not just between them; there was a lot of affection among all of us. Zohra Sehgalji, Helen Aunty, Salman, Aishwarya, , Smita Jayekar—we were like one big family. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I don't think I've had such a fulfilling experience shooting any other film. Do you think that kind of camaraderie on sets still exists? Not at all. Today, it's purely professional. And honestly, I'm fine with that. Times have changed. If you were to remake Hum… Dil De Chuke Sanam, would you change anything? I wouldn't remake any of my films—except maybe Khamoshi , and only because of the altered ending. Otherwise, I prefer to leave my stories as they are. Did Salman try changing 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' climax?
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Working on 'Heeramandi' was exhausting— an incredibly satisfying experience
Mumbai, April 30 (IANS) A year ago, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar" made its grand debut on Netflix. A year since its grand debut, Heeramandi : The Diamond Bazaar, starring Manisha Koirala , Sonakshi Sinha , Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari , Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal, remains a benchmark in Indian OTT storytelling—both for its cinematic scale and the depth of its character-driven drama. At the heart of this ambitious Netflix series is master filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali , known for turning every frame into visual poetry. In this candid conversation, Bhansali looks back on the intense creative journey that went into crafting Heeramandi , a project that not only expanded the boundaries of episodic storytelling but also offered career-defining roles to its ensemble cast. How do you look back on the Heeramandi experience? Exhausting—but incredibly satisfying. Each episode was conceived as a complete film, not just part of a series. That's why so many viewers return to individual episodes; each one stands alone as a distinct emotional and visual experience. The casting was crucial to the success of Heeramandi , wasn't it? Absolutely! One wrong casting choice could have collapsed the entire structure. Fortunately, I got exactly the actors I envisioned. Every performer fits their role perfectly. The women—Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal—were not just playing parts; they became the soul of Heeramandi . And the male cast was equally committed. Their dedication made this world come alive. Manisha Koirala described Heeramandi as her second innings. Do you agree? I hope so. She is absolutely breathtaking as Mallikajan. I began my career with her in Khamoshi: The Musical , where she was fabulous. In Heeramandi , she worked extremely hard—on her diction, posture, and presence. She brought an unmatched gravitas to the role. If given a chance, would you change anything about Heeramandi ? Not a single shot. I stand by every frame. Each of the eight episodes felt like making a feature film. For me, creativity is a constant challenge I pose to myself. I may not always achieve perfection, but the pursuit of it gives my work meaning. How do you respond when people call Heeramandi the best Indian series on OTT? I'm deeply grateful. Of everything I've made so far, Heeramandi has received the most love. That means the world to me.
