ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
Madhur Bhandarkar is popular for making women-oriented films like Chandni Bar, Page 3 and Fashion and the filmmaker clarifies that this doesn’t mean he is gender-biased and says his only aim is to make good movies.
“For me, it is very necessary to make a good film, which garners success and critical acclaim. National Awards definitely come later,” says Bhandarkar.
“I am never gender-biased. I would agree that the ratio of female actresses is more in my films and that’s why people think I make only women-oriented films but that’s not the case. All of it depends upon what I like at that time,” he adds.
Bhandarkar’s films have not only helped him carve a niche for himself, they also became turning point in female actresses’ career -- be it Tabu in Chandni Bar or Priyanka Chopra in Fashion, both the actresses won National Awards for their performances in their respective films.
Now the filmmaker is ready to share another story in the form of Heroine, which has Kareena Kapoor in the lead. Kareena feels she was destined to do Heroine and says the film is very close to her heart. Bhandarkar first offered the lead role to Kareena but she couldn’t do it due to date issues and it went to Aishwarya Rai. However, Aishwarya subsequently opted out due to pregnancy.
And the film once again landed in Kareena’s lap and she said: “Being a part of Heroine was my destiny. The first time I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have dates and second time I was happy that the film came back to me. I had no second thoughts about it and agreed to do it.
“I had a wonderful experience working on this film and it is very close to my heart. Ever since I watched Chandni Bar, I wanted to work with Madhur,” she says.
Slated for a Sep 21 release, the film, which will focus on behind-the-scenes life of an actress, also features Arjun Rampal and Randeep Hooda.
Madhur Bhandarkar is popular for making women-oriented films like Chandni Bar, Page 3 and Fashion and the filmmaker clarifies that this doesn’t mean he is gender-biased and says his only aim is to make good movies.
“For me, it is very necessary to make a good film, which garners success and...
Madhur Bhandarkar is popular for making women-oriented films like Chandni Bar, Page 3 and Fashion and the filmmaker clarifies that this doesn’t mean he is gender-biased and says his only aim is to make good movies.
“For me, it is very necessary to make a good film, which garners success and critical acclaim. National Awards definitely come later,” says Bhandarkar.
“I am never gender-biased. I would agree that the ratio of female actresses is more in my films and that’s why people think I make only women-oriented films but that’s not the case. All of it depends upon what I like at that time,” he adds.
Bhandarkar’s films have not only helped him carve a niche for himself, they also became turning point in female actresses’ career -- be it Tabu in Chandni Bar or Priyanka Chopra in Fashion, both the actresses won National Awards for their performances in their respective films.
Now the filmmaker is ready to share another story in the form of Heroine, which has Kareena Kapoor in the lead. Kareena feels she was destined to do Heroine and says the film is very close to her heart. Bhandarkar first offered the lead role to Kareena but she couldn’t do it due to date issues and it went to Aishwarya Rai. However, Aishwarya subsequently opted out due to pregnancy.
And the film once again landed in Kareena’s lap and she said: “Being a part of Heroine was my destiny. The first time I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have dates and second time I was happy that the film came back to me. I had no second thoughts about it and agreed to do it.
“I had a wonderful experience working on this film and it is very close to my heart. Ever since I watched Chandni Bar, I wanted to work with Madhur,” she says.
Slated for a Sep 21 release, the film, which will focus on behind-the-scenes life of an actress, also features Arjun Rampal and Randeep Hooda.
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