Bhandarkar gives up the idea of making Awards; will make a comedy instead

Updated on: 26 August,2009 08:32 AM IST |
Subhash K Jha |

We told you about Madhur Bhandarkar planning yet another realistic film ('The truth about... Awards'; Hitlist, August 17) based on award functions and Bollywood. The director has now changed his mind anout making the film.

Just back from Norway after attending the Bollywood Film Festival in Oslo, Madhur was greeted with a barrage of criticism for apparently agreeing to direct a film on the behind-the-scenes goings-on at awards functions.

Got cold feet
Says a source, "Madhur was warned that if he went ahead with this film he'd be ostracised from all the awards. Since Madhur's cinema thrives on recognition, he got cold feet and immediately decided to drop the idea.'
Madhur is now going ahead with plans of making a comedy. Something he wanted to do for a very long time.

Seeking right script
Says the director, "About time I'd say. I've been making back-to-back films on serious themes. I wanted to do a comedy for a long time. I've always been a big fan of the comedies by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee. But I just couldn't find the right script."

Now Madhur has found the right person to write the comedy.
He says, "It's too early to comment on who'll be in the comedy. But Tabu has a great comic potential that's waiting to be tapped. I'd love to work with her in a comedy."

As for the film on the behind-the-scenes workings of popular awards, Madhur protests, "It was an idea, not even that. A germ of an idea. Someone overheard me wondering aloud, and spread the word. But I'm not doing a film on popular awards. Right now, all I can think of is Jail."