Entertainment
Even if my films aren’t appreciated, they still make 100 crores: Madhur Bhandarkar

Madhur Bhandarkar on the sets of ‘Heroine’. (Picture courtesy: Wikimedia)
Madhur Bhandarkar, who is the youngest filmmaker to receive the Padma Shri, speaks to Nation Next about his style of filmmaking, which is inspired by real life situations. He also tells us why the box office numbers of his movies don’t bother him.
Excerpts:
Usually your films have big female star cast but in your last movie Calendar Girls, you chose new faces. Can we call it a change in your film making?
When I made Chandni Bar, Tabu was a known face but Atul Kulkarni for that matter was a fresher. Everything depends on the subject and the star cast of your film. Calendar Girls comprised of a story, which was related to a new walk of life. When we look at a calendar, we barely know any faces on it. These face become famous once they get published in the calendar. For Calendar girls, we wanted girls whom people could relate to. Calendar Girls had a lot of edge and emotions. The actresses went through a lot of polishing to attain perfection for their roles.
Your movies generally revolve around female protagonists. As a filmmaker, do you relate more with this genre?
From Chandni Bar to Calendar Girls, I’ve been making movies on the incidents that I have witnessed. My movies are inspired from real life situations around me. I’m satisfied and comfortable with the movies I make. Nothing in this world matches the happiness I get when my movies become successful and recognised.
Your films also deal with the reality of bold subjects but except for your movie Jail, most of your films have been associated with glamour. Will we ever see you making films on the reality of grim issues like farmer suicides in Vidarbha?
It is a very sensitive issue where farmers are giving up their lives for mere basic needs. Many movie makers, especially in Marathi cinema, have made an attempt to bring forward such sensitive issues. If at all, I can show their plight in my movies, I’ll give my best shot for it. I’ll have to show a lot of conviction while making such hard-hitting movies (like the ones that revolve around farmers) because I’ll have to justify the plight of the farmers. In such cases, I’ll have to do a lot of homework. I don’t have to research a lot while shooting for a glamorous movie as I get a lot of exposure while travelling itself. For me, to make a movie on the plight of the farmers, I’ll have to compromise on my lifestyle to understand their hardships. Most importantly, I’ll have to meet the farmers to understand their trauma. I feel this particular issue (of farmer suicides) should reach maximum people. I can think of making a movie on the same in the near future.
How do you see your films financially, in the maze of 100-500 crore films
Even if my films aren’t appreciated, they still make 100 crores. Not all 100 crore films are well recognised. A movie is good only if the audience finds it entertaining. I don’t flaunt my directorial skills and if my fellow directors make good movies, I’m sensible enough to appreciate them. The movies that I make might need specific budgets, which my contemporaries might not need. But, at the end of the day, what gives me immense satisfaction is the fact that my movies break records and don’t rely much on the box office records.
Nagpur News
Dance enthusiasts, friends pay tribute in loving memory of Tiki Peters in Nagpur
Dance enthusiasts, friends and students came together and paid a heartfelt tribute in the loving memory of renowned western dance teacher late Benedict Peters fondly called as Tiki Peters. Moreover, the get-together also gave a chance to enthusiasts who wished to express their love for dance. The get together was held at Money Plant Terrace in Laxmi Nagar on March 13.
Hosts – businessman Dhananjay Sakharkar and Deputy Executive Editor at ABP Majha Sarita Kaushik – along with other guests, reminisced some memorable anecdotes of Tiki that lifted spirits of all as they went down the memory lane.
Fondly remembering Peters, Sarita Kaushik told Nation Next, “Tiki was a dear friend for whom Dhananjay and I arranged this small get-together. He was a gifted teacher who danced like no one else. His moves were fabulous; no body could teach better than him. He had a commendable sense of aesthetics when it came to dance. I’m glad his elder sister and brother are equally talented and will continue Tiki’s legacy of excellence.”
Dhananjay, who had known Peters for nearly four decades, said, “My association Tiki dates back to over 40 years. He taught us many dance forms including Jive, Salsa, Disco, Ballroom, Waltz, Cha Cha Cha. More than anything else, Tiki was an exceptional human being – with amazing sense of humour! When Tiki passed away, Sarita and I arranged a small party where we served everything that he loved – veg puff, macarons, cakes, soft drinks and of course music to dance! This was our small gesture for our dear friend who, I’m certain, was smiling from the heavens that evening!”
Tiki Peters, who was brought up in an Anglo-Indian culture – something that was predominant in city’s Mohan Nagar area, passed away in November last year.
Also read: Inside the famous ₹1.3 crore worth gift bag given to Oscar nominees this year…
Politics
Never thought I’d get such warmth, love after leaving Congress, says Ghulam Nabi Azad
Never thought I’d get such warmth, love after leaving Congress, says Ghulam Nabi Azad…

Ghulam Nabi Azad addressing public meeting at Banihal
Chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said he never imagined he would receive such love and warmth after quitting the Congress party. Azad, on Saturday, remarked, “I had never thought that after leaving Congress, the people of Jammu and Kashmir would receive me with this kind of warmth and love.”
Azad said that after quitting the grand old party, more and more people were joining his new party; they have faith in him. He said, “It gives me more responsibilities and challenges to meet the expectations of people. People feel dejected and disappointed with the present governing system.”
Addressed a public meeting at Banihal- the place close to my heart. People especially youth seem desperate for change. My promise to you all, I will elevate Banihal as the centre of economic activities where you will not only have enough jobs but the development will speed up 1/2 pic.twitter.com/VG1fMywu4b
— Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) March 21, 2023
Azad said he aimed to build a better and progressive Jammu Kashmir where the future of youth is secure. He said if his party came to power, he would bring the massive developmental revolution across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad also asserted that his politics was based on inclusiveness, development and peace. Speaking at the public meeting in Eidgah at Srinagar, Azad, said that unlike other parties who try to divide people for political benefit, he aimed to develop Jammu and Kashmir inclusively where each person irrespective of religion, caste and creed felt politically and socially empowered.
Addressed a gathering of workers at Anantnag today where DDC Chairman Anantnag Mohd Yousuf Gorsi sahib, DDC Member Adv Saleem Parray sahib, joined our party fold. I assure you all, will never let you down & will lead from the front to ensure your rights & future is safe & secure! pic.twitter.com/sqWo4nY6JA
— Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) March 20, 2023
Azad concluded, “Be it statehood, land or jobs, I will lead my people from the front to secure their rights. My people are my priority. I have come back to Jammu Kashmir only for my people otherwise, I had all the opportunities I could desire ever in my life.”
Also read: Gadkari again receives death threat calls from same caller
Nagpur News
BREAKING: Gadkari again receives death threat calls from same caller

Nitin Gadkari
In a rather shocking incident amid the high security C20 conference in Nagpur, the Public Relations Office of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari again received two death threat calls today morning (March 21). According to the information received, once again there have been threatening calls received in the name of a criminal named Jayesh Pujari alias Jayesh Kantha.
Employees of the senior BJP leader’s office alerted Nagpur Police and security has been beefed up outside the office in Khamla and the leader’s residence on Wardha Road. However, cops are yet to ascertain whether the call was actually made by the same person who had issued death threats to Gadkari in January.
On January 14 this year, an unidentified extortionist, claiming to speak on behalf of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, threatened to kill Gadkari in an explosion if he didn’t pay him ₹100 crore.
The caller threatened Gadkari though a phone call on the landline number of his Public Relations Office (PRO) at Khamla in Nagpur (around one kilometre away from his residence) at 11:25 am, 11:32 am, and 12:30 pm.
The employees of the office alerted the police after the threat call, where in the caller also threatened to blow up Gadkari’s office. Nagpur Police immediately beefed up the security outside Gadkari’s office and residence.
It was later revealed that a notorious gangster named Jayesh Pujari had threatened to kill Gadkari by allegedly making the three threat calls illegally using a cellphone while he was lodged in Belgaum Jail at Karnataka.
In 2016, Pujari had even escaped after breaking the jail. The gangster, in the past too, had threatened several senior officers and other people in a similar manner.
Also read: NMC spends ₹20 crore on lighting trees for C20 in Nagpur