Ghai signs Madhur Bhandarkar

Subhash K Jha

Of late, speculation about Madhur Bhandarkar's next step as a filmmaker has increased. Apparently, the director has signed 17 films after Chandni Bar.

Bhandarkar baulks, "Of course not! I have not signed on 17 films. I don't want to ruin the chance God has given me after Chandni Bar. It's true that I've been offered big money by producers. But I've only signed three films. One is Satta, the political film with Karisma Kapoor. The second is Jail, my pet project about undertrials with Sunil Shetty and most probably Aftab Shivdasani."

Now comes the news: Bhandarkar has finalised a film with Subhash Ghai.

"That's right," Madhur confirms. "I've just been signed by Subhashji to direct a film for his banner, Mukta Arts. It's a hard-hitting film like Chandni Bar. The subject is terrorism.

"One of my actors narrated the subject to me. And when Subhashji wanted to produce a film for me, I narrated this subject to him. He fell for it immediately. The film will cost approximately Rs 50 million."

So what happens to Satta? "Oh, that's still on," asserts Madhur. "It goes on the floors in February. I'll start the film for Subhashji in April."

But that's barely two months to complete the project. "Yes. I'm a quick worker. Eighty per cent of Satta will be over by April."