I was given a back row seat at a film awards show, says Pooja Bhatt

Pooja Bhatt reveals how people dismissed her saying that she is just a starlet, when at 21 she forayed into film production, which was till then considered a ‘men’s only’ club

In a recent interview to HTBrunch, Pooja Bhatt recalled how she face oppositions and how people dismissed her altogether when at the age of just 21 she ventured into film production. Bollywood had not seen too many women producers and none were this young. “People said, “You little starlet, you stay in your own little bubble, you want to play with the big boys of Bollywood?” I said, “I most certainly do!”

“People forget that I am the granddaughter of a person named Nanabhai Bhatt, who had made more than 150 odd films. He was the person to introduce the double role phenomenon in Indian movies. Mahesh Bhatt came after him. So filmmaking is in my blood. For me it was a natural progression. I decided to put my money where my mouth was and make films that I believe in. So even if I failed I failed on my terms. We live in such a narcissistic world where people love to be in front of the camera. To be an actor, you have to be self-obsessed but when you are a filmmaker you get a macro view. Every aspect of making the film is under your purview. And for me that is a bigger turn on than just being an actress,” says Pooja.

But she still remembers, the year was 1999, and both of her films, Dushman and Zakhm had got multiple nominations at the Screen awards. “That day we had walked home with 11-odd trophies. But we were given a table at the very rear because no one thought we were important enough to get a seat in the front rows. No one thought a 24-year-old woman producer can be of any worth,” her voice trails and you can still feel the hurt in her voice. She quickly snaps back to her chirpy self. “I was wearing a Donna Karan linen suit, which had cost me an arm and a leg, but I don’t think anybody even noticed my outfit!” she laughs.

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From HT Brunch, July 14, 2017

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