Filmmaker
Madhur
Bhandarkar,
who
has
helmed
some
hard-hitting
films
like
Page
3,
Chandni
Bar,
Corporate,
and
Fashion,
among
others,
is
currently
garnering
attention
with
his
latest
release
India
Lockdown.
The
film
is
available
for
streaming
on
ZEE5.
Expressing
happiness
over
the
viewers’
response,
the
director
said,
“Two
months
back,
my
film
Babli
Bouncer
was
released
on
OTT,
which
received
a
largely
positive
reaction.
Even
now
people
message
me
praising
that
film.
And
now
India
Lockdown
has
come
which
completely
belongs
to
a
different
genre.
I
am
very
happy
with
the
kind
of
response
it
has
received
from
the
audience.
In
an
exclusive
conversation
with
Filmibeat,
Madhur
Bhandarkar
spoke
about
the
budget
of
films,
his
process
of
filmmaking,
and
the
change
in
cinema
post-OTT
and
pandemic.
Excerpts
from
the
interview.
Q.
What
was
the
first
thought
behind
making
a
film
on
lockdown?
A.
It
was
2020,
I
had
finished
the
script
of
Bubli
Bouncer
and
was
sitting
with
my
writers.
We
were
just
thinking
that
on
which
subject
we
could
make
a
film
next.
At
that
time,
COVID-19
was
at
its
peak,
so
we
wanted
to
make
a
short
film.
I
suddenly
got
the
idea
that
let’s
make
a
film
about
the
lockdown.
At
first,
everyone
thought
I
was
joking,
but
then
I
started
working
on
the
draft.
We
also
talked
to
many
people
who
were
going
through
difficult
situations.
Then
we
started
working
on
the
script.
Initially,
we
had
12
stories,
but
we
finally
zeroed
down
to
four.
The
choice
of
stories
was
important
because
every
story
had
to
be
given
a
perfect
treatment,
it
was
necessary
to
give
proper
twists
and
turns.
It
is
not
an
anthology
that
one
story
will
be
followed
by
another.
In
this,
all
the
stories
will
progress
simultaneously.
Every
story
has
the
same
timeline.
We
shot
immediately
after
the
first
lockdown
got
over
when
we
followed
the
restrictions
and
protocols.
We
completed
the
entire
shoot
in
just
25-26
days.
Q.
Why
did
you
choose
the
OTT
route
instead
of
theaters
for
the
film’s
release?
A.
Many
people
asked
this
for
Bubli
Bouncer
as
well.
But
talking
about
India
Lockdown,
I
would
say,
this
film
was
made
for
OTT.
I
had
an
idea
that
the
subject
of
this
film
is
such
that
its
reach
will
be
wider.
It
has
been
released
in
more
than
190
countries
through
OTT.
Zee5
has
a
great
reach
in
small
towns
and
villages
too,
that’s
why
I
would
be
happy
if
this
film
reaches
every
nook
and
corner
of
the
country.
And
the
other
reason
was
that
there
are
no
superstars
in
this
film,
all
are
performers.
That’s
why
I
wanted
it
to
come
on
OTT.
My
film
Bubli
Bouncer
has
been
hugely
successful
on
OTT.
It
was
necessary
for
me
to
make
a
family
entertainer,
comedy
film.
Likewise,
India
Lockdown
is
also
a
film
that
will
connect
with
not
only
audiences
in
India,
but
people
from
all
over
the
world.
Q.
Do
you
also
believe
that
now
only
large-scale
films
will
work
in
theatres?
A.
It’s
not
like
that.
It
depends
on
what
the
movie
is
like.
Today
we
are
seeing
that
films
of
big
superstars
are
also
released
on
OTT.
I
think
there
is
no
limit
to
creativity.
There
is
a
blurred
line
between
OTT
and
theatres,
which
will
also
vanish
with
time.
Many
web
series’
have
been
superhit
on
OTT.
It
has
its
own
awards
functions.
Cinema
has
its
own
charm,
which
will
continue.
Yes,
for
a
few
months,
our
films
haven’t
been
doing
that
well
compared
to
South
films.
But
Bollywood
will
always
be
there.
People
will
go
to
theatres
and
will
watch
movies.
Q.
In
an
event
recently,
Akshay
Kumar
talked
about
reducing
the
fees
of
artists,
so
that
films
can
be
made
on
a
limited
budget.
What
do
you
think
about
this?
A.
If
Akshay
Kumar
has
said
this
then
it
is
a
good
thing.
I
appreciate
it.
I
always
say
that
we
should
be
practical
because
a
film
never
flops,
budget
flops.
I
have
always
made
films
with
a
limited
budget.
India
Lockdown
is
my
15th
film.
My
films
sometimes
worked,
sometimes
didn’t,
but
have
always
recovered
their
budget.
This
is
my
USP,
I
would
say
that
I
always
keep
the
budget
under
control.
The
problem
comes
when
you
go
over
budget
while
making
a
film.
Audiences
have
no
dearth
of
content
today.
People
are
watching
global
content
sitting
at
home.
So
you
have
to
be
thoughtful
about
the
films
you
are
working
on.
It
is
expected
that
not
only
Akshay
Kumar,
but
other
actors
will
also
think
practically
about
this.
Q.
You
have
always
been
known
for
making
films
with
a
limited
budget.
A.
Yes,
because
I
make
films,
not
proposals.
I
have
always
made
subject-oriented
films.
Q.
India
Lockdown
is
your
15th
film.
How
satisfied
are
you
with
the
journey
so
far?
A.
I
have
been
crazy
about
films
since
childhood.
I
ran
a
video
cassette
library
for
four
years.
My
life
has
always
revolved
around
movies.
I
am
still
crazy
about
movies.
I
feel
good
that
I
have
made
such
films
in
life,
which
people
have
loved.
My
dream
was
always
to
become
a
filmmaker.
As
I
said
I
used
to
go
door
to
door
to
sell
video
cassettes,
I
wanted
to
be
a
filmmaker
since
then.
I
just
want
to
make
films
on
my
terms
and
that’s
why
I
am
happy.
I
have
been
in
the
film
industry
for
21
years
and
people
have
given
me
so
much
love.
My
films
got
national
awards.
I
got
Padma
Shri.
I
am
neither
in
any
camp
of
the
industry.
nor
in
any
lobby.
I
live
in
my
own
world
in
the
film
industry,
make
my
own
films,
and
make
my
own
type
of
content.
I
am
not
in
any
rat
race.
Whenever
any
subject
attracts
me,
I
do
research
on
it
and
make
films.
Q.
What
advice
would
you
like
to
give
to
new-age
filmmakers?
A.
I
think
we
should
invest
a
little
more
in
stories.
My
advice
would
be
to
make
the
kind
of
films
you
want
to
make.
Make
good
films,
and
do
experiments.
Some
people
from
the
film
industry
say
about
me
that
whatever
Madhur
sees
anywhere,
he
makes
a
film
on
it.
Whatever
happens
anywhere
in
the
country,
one
or
the
other
tweet
comes
that
now
Madhur
Bhandarkar
will
make
a
film
on
it.
So,
somewhere
I
take
it
in
a
positive
way
that
people
have
faith
in
me,
that
Madhur
Bhandarkar
can
make
a
film
on
any
subject
without
any
fear.
Q.
People
have
given
you
a
lot
of
tags
like
“realistic
filmmaker”
and
“hard-hitting
filmmaker”.
What
do
you
think
about
these
tags?
A.
I
humbly
accept
it.
As
a
filmmaker,
my
audience
matters
the
most
to
me.
The
audience
is
my
star.
I
feel
good
when
people
appreciate
my
work.
Whatever
I
am
today,
I
am
because
of
the
audience.
I
said
that
I
do
not
belong
to
any
camp,
I
do
not
have
any
lobby,
I
do
not
have
any
friends
in
the
industry,
and
I
make
my
own
cinema.
That’s
what
I
like.
I
am
happy
that
for
so
many
years,
I
made
films
without
any
godfathers,
without
any
lobby.
Q.
Have
you
started
work
on
any
film
after
the
India
lockdown?
A.
Not
at
the
moment.
Now,
I
will
take
a
little
break
to
give
time
to
myself.
I
will
start
working
on
a
new
film
only
after
January
2023.
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