I’m in the process of unlearning and relearning: Mahesh Bhatt

Veteran film-maker Mahesh Bhatt wants to learn the rules of new-age film-making from Srijit Mukherjee.

Mahesh Bhatt has been a celebrated film-maker, who has directed acclaimed hits, and launched and backed new talents. However, the last film he directed was the National Award winning Zakhm (1998). Now, as director Srijit Mukherjee gears up to helm one of Bhatt’s productions, the veteran director and producer plans to become a student once again. Bhatt wants to learn as many new things as possible from his new director.

A wise man once said that the literate man of 21 st century is not the one who knows how to read and write but is someone who is willing to learn , unlearn and relearn. (Satish Bhate/Hindustan Times)

Talking about his decision to go on the sets as a student, he tells us, “A wise man once said that the literate man of 21st century is not one who knows how to read and write, but is someone who is willing to learn, unlearn and relearn. I’m in the process of unlearning and relearning. This is what has helped me be relevant in the film industry for the last 40 years.”

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Bhatt wants to learn how new directors extract performances from their actors. He wants to see how different the approach is today than what it used to be during his time. “I want to know how the scenes are set up, how the shot break down takes place. I also want to understand what kind of conversations are taking place with actors Vidya Balan and Nasseruddin Shah,” he says.