Almost a year since his last film Guzaarish hit the marquees, there has been no news of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next venture as a director. But those familiar with the director’s work say there’s no reason to worry. “Everyone is talking about how Sanjay’s next film isn’t on the floors yet,” says one industry source. “But why forget that he’s never made films in a hurry. In the decade and a half that he has been a director, he has made only six films. That makes it one film every two and a half years. So why all the speculation?”
Some of the talk may just stem from the fact that Sanjay has three films lined up as a producer — My Friend Pinto, Rowdy Rathore and Shirin Farhad Ki Nikal Padi — but none as a director. “There is definitely a strong urge to direct again,” Sanjay says. “Come May, and I should start shooting for my next film.”
“After every film of mine, I typically take a break of around a year and a half before starting my next,” Sanjay adds. “Khamoshi (1996), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Devdas (2002), Black (2005), Saawariya (2008) and Guzaarish (2010) are pretty much a testimony to that. So starting my next in mid-2012 makes perfect sense, no?”