Sanjay Leela Bhansali: I would have shelved ‘Black’ if Amitabh Bachchan had not agreed to do it – Exclusive – Times of India

Recalling the experience Bhansali says, “Every filmmaker in India hopes to work with Amitji at least once. But I do hope I can work with him again. ‘Black’ was a memorable experience for both of us. At least it was for me, and I hope he considers it among his landmark performances. Because I feel what he did to the character of Debraj, the tutor to the blind and deaf Michelle, is beyond anything I had hoped to get from even an actor of Mr Bachchan’s stature.”

The epic filmmaker was very clear he wanted only Mr Bachchan in the role. “I would have shelved ‘Black’ if Mr Bachchan had not agreed to do it. Luckily for me he agreed almost right away. He was very pleased to work with me. I was of course over the moon. No filmmaker in Hindi cinema can consider his career complete without working with Mr Bachchan.”

And to think Mr Bachchan did the film for free. Says Bhansali, “It is true he didn’t charge a single penny for ‘Black’. It was his way of showing how much he believed in the project.” On working again with the ‘mayanaayak’, Bhansali says, “I would love to. But I have to search for something to match Black, if not surpass it.”

Interestingly, ‘Black’ was co-produced by Bhansali and Applause Entertainment. The latter company, now heavily into web series and feature-film production, is helmed by Sameer Nair, the brain behind Mr Bachchan’s Kaun Banega Crorepati.