Madhur Bhandarkar Opens Up About ‘Nepotism’ In The Film Industry; Says ‘This Industry Is Very Cruel’

The ‘Fashion’ director remembered how people disappeared and ignored him after his first film ‘Trishakti’ flopped.

The burning debate on ‘nepotism’ in the film industry is not going to extinguish soon. With heavy steps, many celebrities are speaking up on this topic sharing their experiences on the same. From filmmakers to journalists, known personalities are revealing some hidden truths of the show business. The controversy on ‘insiders vs outsiders’ has triggered the moment Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on 14^th June. People started talking about bullying, nepotism and power play in Bollywood and how the ‘outsiders’ are treated differently. It is now filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar who has opened up his experience as an outsider. In an interview with a leading daily, the ‘Heroine’ director told how he was treated when his first film ‘Trishakti’ came out to be a flop. He said, “My first film, Trishakti flopped, and I got a ringside view of people, how they desert you, and don’t want to talk to you. They feel ‘Film flopped, yeh manhoos hai’. It could be anyone — an actor or director — the tone and texture of their personality changes. This industry is very cruel.” The ’Chandni Bar’ director was honoured with ‘Padma Shri’ in the year 2016 and also won National Film Award for three of his movies. Bhandarkar had to work very hard particularly after his first film flopped as he hailed from a middle-class family. Recollecting his hard times, he said, “The minute Trishakti bombed, people who used to take my calls — they were not even big people — they simply disappeared. They were suddenly nowhere. It was difficult for me to again get a foothold. People advise you ‘Your career is over’. My professional obituary was written that day.” “If not success, at least access is there, because of a father, brother, mom or uncle who’s successful,” he added. Madhur Bhandarkar has own National Awards for his film ‘Traffic Signal’, ‘Page 3’ and ‘Chandni Bar’. The protagonist of almost all his movies are females and he feel that his movies just hold up a mirror to the society.