'Reality isn't fair or kind'

Madhur Bhandarkar talks to Hiren Kotwani about his brand of cinema and his new flick Corporate.

"Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan" is a tenet director Madhur Bhandarkar maintains even after winning the National Award twice.

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After the commercially successful Page 3, Bhandarkar is gearing up for the release of Corporate, which looks at the dark secrets of the business world. At the same time, he's also filming Traffic Signal, completing a trilogy with Sahara One Motion Pictures.

Bhandarkar is a highly sought after director today. "I don't know about that," he says diplomatically.

"I'm the same person I was when I started out with

Trishakti

though it feels good to know that

Corporate

sold all its territories on my name. But I'm very aware of the ups and downs of life. When you're successful, everybody wants to work with you, but when you're a flop, no one wants to touch you."

Since the corporate world also finds itself on page three, how did he differentiate between the two films?

"While I was researching for Page 3 I met a lot of corporate people too, which gave me an insight into their dayto-day functioning, their mindsets etc. That's when I decided to make a film on the business world."

Corporate stars Bipasha Basu and Kay Kay. Will he be creating a new image for Basu? After a pause, Bhandarkar says, "Bipasha fitted the role of the businesswoman perfectly," he says, denying any attempt to change her image.

"She's a director's actor and delivered exactly the performance I wanted."

Did casting Kay Kay, Rajat Kapoor and Raj Babbar balance Basu's star presence? "I could have cast an established star opposite her, but I felt Kay Kay would be more suitable, and it's a very powerful role. Rajat and Raj are fabulous actors playing rival corporates."

When someone makes a film based on real people, is there an apprehension that the subjects would want him to tone down the reality?

"I have not had any such experience. I'm making a realistic film and reality isn't always fair and kind. I've never attempted to tone down reality. I'm an experimental film director who makes films based on reality. Though I would like to make a comedy or a light, romantic film. But I can't make anything frivolous."

So where does Traffic Signal fit in? "That's another face of reality. Everyday while travelling we often stop at the signal and see so many characters. That intrigued me immensely. Traffic Signal is a slice of life film which looks at all those people and facets of their lives."

Bhandarkar remains detached from pre-release jitters of his films. But he does not hide his joy at eminent fatherhood.

"It's a great feeling to be in the family way. My wife Renu and I are very excited." Apart from that, another home-production is on the way. "I'll be starting my own production company soon," he shares on a parting note.