Madhur Bhandarkar says he is ‘not the flag bearer’ of women-centric cinema, reveals he was asked to add 6 item songs in Chandni Bar

He added, “For Chandni Bar, I had to go to so many people. They said it was a good subject but asked me to put 6 item songs in it. I was reluctant to do that. Very few producers want to back women-centric cinema.”

Also Read | The big fat Ambani wedding, Bollywood divorces and India in concert: 2024 was a year full of drama, action, and controversies

While talking about the gender and pay disparity in Bollywood, Madhur Bhandarkar pointed out how Tabu, Kareena Kapoor, and Priyanka Chopra slashed their fees for him. “10 years back, they would say only Madhur can make a film in that budget, we cannot. People were reluctant. I remember Kareena Kapoor, Tabu, Priyanka Chopra cutting their fees to do my films. Higher fees would add to budget constraints. It has been difficult. Even male actors should consider reducing their fees for a woman-centric film.”

Madhur Bhandarkar further advised filmmakers to pursue women-centric cinema, adding that it is a work in progress. He said, “Everybody will keep giving free advice, but you should do what you like. Chandni Bar was trashed by critics; they called it depressing. During Fashion, people said it was better to watch a fashion show than this film. These things shouldn’t bog us down. Today, Laapataa Ladies is being talked about globally because its content was strong. Chandni Bar had to compete with Gadar, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Lagaan, etc, but it still got nominated at all awards show.”

“Women-centric films are not backed completely. Even today if I go with a subject to anyone, they will give a budget of Rs 20-22 crores. Then that producer will only propose to have the story male-led and will be willing to give a budget of Rs 50-60 crores. That gender and pay disparity still exist, so yes, it’s still a work in progress,” the filmmaker added.

Madhur Bhandrakar also recalled how he faced problems casting male actors in his films. “I have faced a problem casting heroes for my films. They didn’t want to do it because the focus was on women. I have an image that if I make a film, it would revolve around women only. Then we have to cast newcomers. In the past, Rishi Kapoor has done movies in which women had a bigger role, for example, Nagina. That time actor’s would do this, but now there is an entire facade where actors want to know how many scenes they have, etc. Now they want to just do solo hero/heroine films.”

Also Read | Hindi cinema’s best to worst in 2024: Of Pushpa 2 and Stree 2, Chamkila and Laapataa Ladies

On a concluding note, Bhandarkar stated, “I am not the flag bearer of women-centric cinema. Bimal Roy, Kamaal Amrohiji, Guru Duttji, Shyam Benegal, Raj Kapoor sahab also made such films. In the 80s came the wave of masala potboiler films, in which women-centric cinema got lost somewhere. Chandni Bar was the first film that released alongside big films and broke that mould about women-centric cinema. The percentage for women-centric films is still less because people have the tendency to ask who is the hero; nobody ever asks who is the heroine. That mindset needs to change. Actresses should get as big an opening at the box office as the heroes; they will be paid well then. Today actresses are scared that if they do a female-led film and it doesn’t work, it will affect their image. That is why they are okay to do a few scenes in a big film led by a hero.”