Sanjay Leela Bhansali talks about crafting emotion in 'Bajirao Mastani' and others for the audience

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's craftsmanship in his iconic films like 'Devdas' and 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela' and more have been widely appreciated. In a recent interview, he talked about how he wants the audience to feel the emotions of his characters through the screenplay, costumes, props, and background music.
Speaking about his film 'Bajirao Mastani' with The Hollywood Reporter India, he shared that he wanted viewers to feel the humiliation that Mastani faced when she was called the "other woman."
Regarding his filmmaking process, the filmmaker mentioned that he aims to capture the essence of each moment to help the audience connect with it.He believes that some scenes become iconic when they are brought to life on set, and for that to happen, he needs to be fully engaged and present during the creation process.
He also explained that his approach to filmmaking goes beyond simple visual details like hair fluttering or eye movements. For him, it's about capturing moments and expressions that allow the audience to understand the emotions and context of the story. He emphasized that he wanted viewers to truly experience the humiliation that Mastani felt in the movie.
“That she was loved by Bajirao but not being accepted by Bajirao and she was the other woman. I made Bajirao because there was a man who said ‘You’re not the other woman. You will come into my house because I love you.' That is why I told that love story of a warrior," he said.
To entertain the viewers with emotions, Bhansali focused on Tanvi Azmi’s character, Radhabai, adding depth to a scene to convey the feelings. He prefers his films to have elements of mystery and enigma, creating a sense of unraveling. He also mentioned a scene from his debut OTT series, 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar', where Manisha Koirala’s character, Mallikajaan, goes to a fountain to purify herself after being assaulted by the Britishers. This moment came to life during production because he continuously questioned himself, ‘How am I going to make the audience feel what Manisha is feeling?'
Further, as we speak, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is busy with his next venture, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal's 'Love And War'. The movie is expected to hit cinemas in March 2026.


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