Ever since Page 3 bagged the National Award for Best Film, it is difficult to get through to director Madhur Bhandarkar. His phones ring incessantly, and SMS messages pour in.

Bhandarkar is quite familiar with the National Award. His Chandni Bar, which won raves for portraying bar dancers in a realistic way, also won a National Award.

"It's great to get the prestigious National Award. It's a big honour to receive it from the President of the country; a great high," says a visibly excited Madhur.

"Just last week Page 3 celebrated its silver jubilee," he adds. "I am happy that it was well received in many parts of the country. A lot of people have complimented me on it. They feel I am a lucky mascot as it ushered in a successful period. Some films did well after Page 3 and many feel I broke the jinx in Bollywood. In fact, there was a lot of skepticism when I made Page 3. People told me who will watch a film on this subject. But I had a gut feeling it would do well and so stuck to my conviction."

'I voted for Shah Rukh Khan'

In fact, whenever Madhur has made a film with conviction, it had worked well. Take Chandni Bar, Satta and Page 3. Aan: Men At Work was simply a commercial multi-starrer.

"I have never planned my life. I have struggled, seen many ups and downs. When I made my first film Trishakti, nobody knew about it. It flopped. Then Chandni Bar happened, and it won awards. Then I made Satta, a film close to my heart. Aan and Page 3 followed," he says.

Madhur did not have awards in mind while scripting the film. "I don't expect anything from a film. I'm just happy making them. I don't look at awards. But if they win, it certainly feels good. I work on any film as I am directing for the first time. I am a student of cinema and not a master. I make films with a different perspective. I like to make films with a number of characters and emotions. I could have made Page 3 as a spoof. But I wanted it to be dark, authentic and real," he says.

The research for Page 3 took about seven-eight months where he was helped by journalists, friends, drivers of socialites and others.

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The director feels the award will encourage the film in the festival circuit abroad. "Those who have not seen it yet may be motivated to see it," he says. "Today is the day of cable TV and DVDs. So many may have watched it many times over. Some have told me that it is a cult film."

So far, his prominent movies -- Chandni Bar, Satta and Page 3 -- have had strong women protagonists. "I like doing movies with women characters if the subject is good. I am comfortable with that," he explains.

His next film, Corporate, will also have a female protagonist. Madhur has roped in Aishwarya Rai for the role.

'Ash deserved the award'

"Corporate looks at a woman's journey in the corporate world. Ash is capable of playing the role. She liked the script. There are some date problems. Let's wait and see if it works out."

Madhur's last film in the trilogy (after Page 3 and Corporate) is Signal. "It will be a sensitive film with dark humour centered around men."