Mumbai, Apr 22: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali confesses that he is “obsessed” with Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit, perhaps even more than M F Hussain.
“In my every film I wanted to direct Madhuri... right from ‘Khamoshi' to this date. I am obsessed with her. No other director is as obsessed as me about Madhuri,” Bhansali told PTI.
Madhuri essayed the role of Chandramukhi in Bhansali's ‘Devdas' (2002).
“I waited for two-and-half years during ‘Khamoshi' at her door to ask her to read the script but I couldn't get through to her. So I made the film without her. During ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' also I tried but it did not happen. Then I ensured that in ‘Devdas' Madhuri was there,” the 48-year-old director said.
“When we were doing the film she called saying she was getting married and asked if I (still) wanted her in film. I said even if you are married or have a child I want you to play Chandramukhi,” he added.
But Bhansali was upset by the fact that he had to wait for four years to see Madhuri—who was one of the judges for the fourth season of ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'—performing.
“I waited for four years as a director to see her dance as Chandramukhi, whereas in ‘Jhalak Dihkla Jaa' the contestants got to see her every two minutes. I was very upset. This is unfair. I waited for four years for her. She is such a great and natural artist. She lights up the performance,” Bhansali said.
“With our busy schedules, we couldn't meet up (when he made his latest, ‘Guzaarish'). But we did speak on phone. She saw ‘Guzaarish' and called me saying she loved it. It meant a lot to me when she said she loved every minute of the film,” Bhansali said. PTI
