Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane has been receiving critical acclaim for his latest project, Jubilee, a series on Amazon Prime Video that follows the growth of the Hindi film industry alongside India’s development. Motwane, who worked as an assistant director with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the early days of his career, recently spoke about his experience working with Bhansali in an interview with Mid-Day.
Responding to rumours of Bhansali’s ‘megalomania’ that would drive his assistants crazy, Motwane explained that Bhansali’s passion for his craft was all-consuming. He lives, breathes, and obsesses over his movies, and his search for perfection can seem unnatural at times. However, Motwane argues that this intensity comes from a desire to create a unique and special universe that is specific to Bhansali’s style.
Motwane also spoke about his experience working on a program called Disney Club during his teenage years, where he had a lot of freedom to work independently and earned a reasonable wage. Working with Bhansali was different, however, as the hours were long and the pay was low. Motwane commented on the general laziness that he sees in the film industry, where a “chalta hai” attitude permeates every aspect of production. In contrast, he noted that Bhansali pays meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of his films, from music and sets to costumes.
Motwane admitted that working with Bhansali was initially a culture shock, but he eventually became accustomed to it. He noted that Bhansali only places trust in those he has faith in and empowers them to take on significant responsibilities. Overall, Motwane’s experience working with Bhansali was a positive one, and he praised Bhansali’s commitment to creating high-quality films.