National Award-winning director Madhur Bhandarkar recently visited Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple to seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings. After the visit, he shared his experience on X, posting, “Today Siddhivinayak temple Darshan. Ganpati Bappa Moriya.” Bhandarkar’s post included two pictures: one of the Lord Ganesha idol and another of himself, smiling brightly in a lavender T-shirt.
Madhur Bhandarkar, who began his career in 1999, has made a significant mark in the film industry with notable works like ‘Fashion’ and ‘Page 3’. Despite his debut film ‘Trishakti’ failing at the box office, he gained recognition with ‘Chandni Bar’, which earned National Awards for both him and actress Tabu.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Bhandarkar discussed the impact of ‘Chandni Bar’ on the industry, highlighting how it was the first female-led film to succeed in both multiplexes and single screens during a period dominated by big-budget, male-centric movies. The film, nominated alongside major hits like ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, ‘Gadar’, and ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, significantly altered cinematic conventions.
Bhandarkar’s most recent Hindi film, ‘Babli Bouncer’, featured Tamannaah Bhatia and was released on Disney Plus Hotstar. The romantic comedy explored the world of female bouncers but did not receive a favorable response from audiences, despite its unique premise and supporting cast, which included Saurabh Shukla, Abhishek Bajaj, and Sahil Vaid.