Mahesh Bhatt
My mother was a Muslim and dad a Hindu. I got the best upbringing that anyone could. Never did I see any angst in my family owing to that: each practiced their own religion. My existence is the harmony that these two communities can achieve if they try.Collection: Dad
The world is not a static place. People change, evolve.Collection: Change
I would rather be stupid than pretend to be intelligent.
'Dhoka,' I think, is not just meant for Pakistan and India but for South Asia.
There is a child in every man, and that's why larger-than-life stories which have a fairly tale component will work.
'Zakhm' was my last film as a director.
Modi talks about Congress Mukt Bharat. I feel this is a fascist ideology.
Life continues, irrespective of whether we are there or not.
A true artist is one who, even after doing a lot, he reminds himself that he hasn't done anything.
I am an absolute atheist.
Vijay Anand's death marks the passing away of a true, original mind. Vijay had charisma and cinematic dazzle. He was the first who gave Indian film directors the status of a star.
We as men, need to give the Indian women all the strength that she needs, rightfully asking to be able to walk with head held high.
I think one of the basest of all things is fear. Fear erodes the individual. Fear erodes the nation, the spine of the nation.
I felt it was a privilege that I came from such a rich background. I had the best of both worlds. My mother was a Shia Muslim, while my father was a janoi-clad man. He never pretended to be secular.
I can understand the individual who is driven by biases. I can sit with him across the table and can talk to him, deal with him. But bias in the man whom we put in the seat of power and who decides to play on it... That man will destroy the very fabric of the nation.
'Zakhm' has no political agenda. But, it certainly says things as they are.
Men who create power make an indispensable contribution to a nation's greatness. But, men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable.
If the story-teller is to nourish the roots of his culture, society must set him free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.
I believe that, at times, if some of us are almost too critical of our society, it's because our sensitivity and our concern for justice makes us aware that our nation falls terribly short of its highest potential.
Questioning authority can hardly be called our national pastime. We even make a philosophy out of fear. Fatalism, destiny, karma... are the favourite cultural holes we hide in when authority flogs us. And what's our tragedy.
I personally feel that religion should be kept private.
I feel it is the believers who are most dangerous for the secular framework of a nation.
I am a people's person. I consume people.
I love to inspire and get inspired.
I love people who have distinctive, unique personalities who are not in assembly lines and have something to offer.
A long and productive career in the world of films is bound to be checkered with success and failures. You cannot have one without the other; the only way not to make a flop is not to make a film.
I love working with newcomers.
I don't give a tinker's damn for posterity.
I always wanted to make a film on Kalahandi.
Life isn't all about entertainment.
A franchise gives a sense of security to everyone - the director, producers, exhibitors, and even the audience feels that they are watching something close to the first part.
'Blood Money' was a stand-alone film, but we worked double for it. We realised how difficult it is to sensitise people to anything new, especially when you don't have a star.
We work without stars, and we proudly proclaim it. People come to Vishesh Films to work with us, and not because we can create a star.
Men like Sunil Dutt should not be mourned, only envied for their greatness.
The tragedy of India is that the Mahatma, who has numerous streets named after him and has had his statues put up everywhere, who's there in our school books and on our currency, who is used by everyone to hardsell his political ideology, is not emulated in India.
Yes, whatever is born, dies, but I thank life for gifting us a Nelson Mandela. He will sparkle in our consciousness for times to come.
India was going though a difficult time in 1997. We had revolving door governments.
It's only a big man who makes you feel big.
Without a good story, a franchise won't work.
A person doesn't only give money to watch a film: he also gives his time.
Life experiences cannot be learnt on the film set or in front of the camera.
There is no one idea of India, but ideas of India.
I am a mere filmmaker. I am not even aligned to any political party. I vote for the Congress party, and I root for the Congress ideology, but I am not subject to the Congress party.
It would be a tragedy for democracy if dissent goes away.
At the end of the day, human beings make mistakes.
Cinema is not part of my entertainment.
My last film as director, the National Award winning 'Zakhm,' barely managed to break even. So why should I listen to so-called sensibilities of a handful of critics?
It's always better to make a hero than lean on one. My goal is to emulate China in the filmmaking business, not Los Angeles.
I have only an appetite for masochistic truth, and only box-office collection figures interest me.
When the film industry moves to the 21st century, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the money used in film-making is clean and devoid of any underworld connections.