Bhansali Breaks Down Recalling Family’s Struggle in Chawl: ‘My Films Will Never Be Blockbusters’
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for crafting some of the grandest and most visually stunning sets in Indian cinema, recently shared a deeply emotional glimpse into his modest beginnings. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhansali opened up about growing up in a cramped, 300-square-foot chawl in Mumbai, a stark contrast to the opulence he brings to the screen through films like Padmaavat and his latest Netflix series, Heera Mandi. The acclaimed filmmaker reflected on how his childhood struggles profoundly shaped his creative journey and cinematic style.
A childhood shaped by constraints
Bhansali began by recalling the simplicity and struggles of his early years in the chawl, his voice cracking with emotion as he painted a picture of his colorless surroundings. “I come from a small little chawl, in a 300-square-foot, colorless space,” he said, revealing how growing up in such cramped quarters with his family left a lasting impact on his worldview. For Bhansali, space wasn’t just a physical constraint—it became a defining element of his dreams.
While the physical world around him was devoid of vibrancy, his imagination thrived. The young Bhansali found solace in his dreams, envisioning grand, larger-than-life worlds that offered him an escape from the harsh realities of his surroundings. “The walls of the chawl may have had no color, but my imagination was alive,” he shared.
A family’s struggle with cinema
Bhansali’s connection to cinema began early, but it wasn’t without its share of heartbreak. His father, who had aspirations in the film industry, invested in a movie titled Jahazi Lutera. Unfortunately, the film flopped, deepening the family’s financial struggles. The pain didn’t end there. Bhansali’s grandmother, despite their economic hardships, gathered Rs 10,000 to invest in a film called Sone Ke Haath. Like his father’s venture, this too failed, leaving the family to bear the burden of another broken dream.
The repeated disappointments, however, did not dampen their love for cinema. Bhansali’s mother, a gifted dancer, would perform in their tiny 100-square-foot home, bringing moments of joy and creativity into their lives. “My mother danced in that tiny space,” Bhansali recalled, teary-eyed. He marveled at how far he had come, remarking, “Today, my heroines dance in the biggest sets ever shot in Hindi cinema.”
Cinema as an escape from Harsh realities
Reflecting on the world of his childhood, Bhansali revealed that the starkness of his environment made him reject realism in his films. The real world, as he knew it, was too painful, too colorless. For him, cinema offered an alternative reality, a dream world where anything was possible. “The small, unfulfilled world around me made me reject realism,” he explained. “The dream world of cinema was my only escape.”
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These early struggles ignited Bhansali’s creative fire, leading him to craft films that are personal, uncomfortable, and often intense. He noted that the chaos and pain of his upbringing fueled the artistic choices that now define his career. “I’ve made very big films. I’ve earned the right to make big films,” Bhansali said. However, he was quick to point out that these grand productions are deeply rooted in the turbulence of his life experiences.
A different kind of success
Despite the grandeur of his films, Bhansali remains acutely aware that his movies are not the kind of blockbusters that dominate the box office. “My films will never be the blockbuster that other directors would give,” he acknowledged with a sense of acceptance. For Bhansali, filmmaking is not about chasing commercial success or raking in massive box-office numbers. “It is not about counting crores,” he explained. Instead, his focus is on the artistic impressions left by his work—the emotional depth and the lasting impact on viewers.
Bhansali’s films, from Devdas to Bajirao Mastani, are a reflection of his own life—beautiful, complex, and tinged with pain. They may not always bring in record-breaking revenue, but they resonate with audiences on a deeper, emotional level, much like the struggles that shaped his own life.
A legacy born from struggles
As Bhansali continues to create larger-than-life cinematic experiences, it is clear that his art is a product of both his personal history and his dreams of something bigger than the world he grew up in. His films are a testament to his refusal to let the constraints of his childhood define him, and though they may not always be box-office juggernauts, they stand as powerful works of art that transcend commercial success.
Bhansali’s journey from a chawl in Mumbai to the pinnacle of Bollywood is a poignant reminder that sometimes, the greatest art is born from the deepest struggles.
