Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn’s 1999 film ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ remains one of the most cherished romantic dramas in Bollywood. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film captured hearts with its soulful music, vibrant visuals, and the emotional complexity of its love triangle.More than two decades later, stories about the film’s journey continue to fascinate fans. In an old interview on Star Plus’ talk show Star Talk, Bhansali opened up about the behind-the-scenes moments that led to the film being selected for the prestigious Berlin Film Festival.
When Berlin came calling
Bhansali recalled how ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ made its way to international acclaim, particularly at the Berlin Film Festival. He recalled, “It was wonderful that it was selected in Berlin, it is now gone to every festival. There were two people responsible for it. One was Dorothy who came here from Berlin to select a film and a taxi driver said, ‘Memsahab aap ye picture dekho humare saath.’ He went with her, he sat with her, explained the film to her and she fell in love with the film.”
Bhansali thought Jaya Bachchan disliked the film
While Bhansali celebrated the international success, he explained, “And there was Jaya Bachchan, who recommended the film very strongly to Berlin. She came and saw the film and the day she saw the film, she came out, smiled at me and left. I thought she hated the film, it was before the release of the film.”However, he was in for a surprise. Jaya later called him and clarified that her way of appreciating the film was more action than words. She had quietly recommended the film to the Berlin Festival selection committee, which played a key role in its international success. Bhansali shared, “And then she called me one day and said, ‘You thought I hated the film but my way of saying that I like the film was to recommend it to Berlin and see to it that it goes over there.”
Bhansali’s journey since then
Since the success of ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has established himself as one of India’s most visionary directors. From grand period dramas like ‘Devdas’, ‘Bajirao Mastani’, and ‘Padmaavat’, to the OTT series ‘Heeramandi’, Bhansali’s style has always been characterised by rich visuals, strong emotions, and unforgettable music.On the work front, Bhansali is now gearing up for his next big project, ‘Love & War’. The film will feature Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal in lead roles.
