Sanjay Leela Bhansali has often been described by actors as a demanding film director who strives for perfection on set. Veteran actor Yatin Karekar, who worked with the director in ‘Bajirao Mastani’, recently shared his experience of working under Bhansali, recalling the director’s strict nature and the lighter moments he shared with co-star Ranveer Singh.Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, Karekar revealed that he and Ranveer developed a close friendship during the shoot, though they were careful not to let their fun interfere with work.
He said, “Ranveer and I were like buddies. We hit it off well. We used to face dhamaal on the sets. Sanjay ji is very strict, so not in front of him. But when we were sitting alone, it was quite fun. He (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) is a bit strict.”
The director is God for me.”Karekar also narrated that he saw Bhansali losing his temper with the actor
Aditya Pancholi
While filming. According to him, Pancholi was reprimanding a junior artist when the director intervened.“I once saw him shouting at Aditya Pancholi. Aditya was scolding some junior artistes, so Sanjay shouted loudly, ‘You shut up Aditya.’ He was not nice. I have heard many examples of his temper. When a senior artiste couldn’t make a move, he threw a chair at her.
He broke many cell phones and microphones. I was completely prepared for all of this. Aditya was shocked. He added that he did not expect that.Although he remembered Bhansali’s fiery temper, Karekar was full of praise for the director’s creative abilities, placing him among the best directors in the industry.“He is a genius, a creative genius. If there are two pillars in the industry – it is him.”
Rajkumar Hirani
. They both have different working methods. One does not even realize that they are on the sets of Raju’s film.
Everything is nice and quiet. There is no tension. “Everyone is smiling,” he concluded.Released in 2015, Bajirao Mastani stars Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the lead roles. The historical drama was a critical and commercial success, receiving widespread acclaim for its performances, music, and sheer visual scale.
