It’s all about music for Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Television has attracted film stars and now it seems even filmmakers want a slice of the small screen these days. The new one to join the list of celeb filmmakers on the tube is director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Bhansali is ready to don the hat of the judge of a singing reality show. Television is not a new terrain for Bhansali and X Factor will be his second stint on TV after Jhalak Dikhla Jaa.

So what made him opt for a singing reality show? “Television had attracted me four years ago when I judged JDJ. It was a wonderful experience but films were my priority. Post that I had decided to take up TV only when I get some time off movies. This show came at the perfect time since I am taking a break after Guzaarish,” says Bhansali.

Ask him the importance of music in his life and Sanjay is quick to respond, “Music is everything for me. I need it all of 24 hours of the day and I like all kinds of music. It is like therapy for me. My favourite singers are Shiv Kumar Sharma, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishori Amonkar among others. But I can neither sing nor play any instruments,” he quickly adds.

Bhansali, who had turned music director with Guzaarish, says about the experience; “I did the music for Guzaarish because I knew the kind of music I was looking out for. I grew as a musician and I feel that Indian arrangements are very important in music.”
Quiz him about casting Prateik as the lead in his upcoming film and he says, “I loved Prateik’s work in Jaane Tu… and as far as acting is concerned, he is simply headed up the charts. He was perfect for the role that I’ve finally cast him in.”