Sanjay Leela Bhansali: A strong female character is the fulcrum of any project for me

In a conversation with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Sanjay Leela Bhansali spoke about how female characters are an integral part of his stories.

"Be it Manisha's character in Khamoshi (1996), who looks after her differently abled parents, Nandini in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), who has the courage to pursue her love and then make a choice, the character of Mastani in Bajirao Mastani (2015) or that of Rani in Black (2005), for me the impact of a story increases manifold with a strong female character," Bhansali said. He further mentioned: "A strong female character is the fulcrum of any project for me. I won't make Bajirao Mastani if there's no Mastani".

Bhansali is best known for films such as Khamoshi, Bajirao Mastani, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Gangubai Kathiwadi (2022) and several others, finds the strength of his stories in female characters. He is always drawn to strong female characters.

Bhansali is making his foray in the digital medium with his upcoming series Heeramandi, a series surrounding the lives of courtesans.