Vidhu Vinod Chopra gave Sanjay Leela Bhansali his big break in Bollywood. The well-known director disclosed that he began his career in Bollywood serving as Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s assistant director, a role he held for eight years. It wasn’t simple to join his team, though. Bhansali revealed that he received the job because of Vidhu’s ex-wife, Renu Chopra.
During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhansali shared, “My walking into the film world was impossible.How did this boy living near Bhindi Bazaar would come here. That boy never spoke well, had no friends, who had no influence but there is path and it’s a long path.” He also mentioned that Bela Segal, his sister, assisted him in opening the door to Vidhu’s office.
He further added, “My sister worked with Vidhu Vinod Chopra. She approached his ex-wife Renu Chopra, who forced him to take me. Vinod Chopra came and in his characteristic style, he dismissed me. Then he accepted me and I worked with him for 8 years.”
Sanjay expressed how grateful he still is for Vindo Chopra. He stated, “He made me iron and steel. After working with him for 8 years, you can face anything in the world. Till date if Vinod Chopra’s call comes, I stand up and talk. That is the gratitude I feel towards somebody who changed my life.”
The filmmaker worked with Vindo Chopra on a number of films. These include ‘1942: A Love Story’, in which he was recognized as the co-writer, and Parinda, in which he was an AD. It was also intended that they work on ‘Kareeb’ (1998). But it’s said that Bhansali and Chopra fell out when Bhansali declined to helm the movie. In the end, he decided to make his debut with ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’.
Since then, Bhansali has worked on several movies. These include the recently-created Heeramandi, Black, Saawariya, Devdas, and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. He is currently working on the film ‘Love and War’, starring Vicky Kaushal, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt.
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