Calendar Girls is completely different from Fashion: Bhandarkar

So you are having a busy schedule?

I  have been keeping busy for some time now because my film’s almost ready and not the last most important thing...the promotions are consuming all my time. This film is again very close to my heart and I am hopeful about it.

Your last film Heroine didn’t work out well. Does that increase the pressure before the release of Calendar Girls?

See, all the films that I have made so far are very close to my heart. Heroine is no different but somehow the film didn’t do well. It did good business in some pockets but everything is not in my control. But that doesn’t mean I am tensed or there is more pressure on me before the release of Calendar Girls. It’s a new film with a new story and the audience will have separate views on this film. So, I am extremely excited before the release of this film.

Unlike your earlier films, this time you have not worked with a big star.

It all depends on the script. Be it Heroine, Fashion, Chandni Bar or Page 3, they had just one or two protagonists. But here there are five girls and we didn’t really want a big name. The film is about girls who are featured on calendars. In reality too the girls who pose for calendars are fresh faces. Hence I wanted fresh faces for this film and I am happy with the way all these five girls have performed in the film.

You have already made a film on the fashion industry. How different is Calendar Girls from Fashion?

It’s completely different (Smiles). I understand why this question is being asked. The general notion is that models are featured on calendars, which to a great extent is correct and hence this doubt in everyone’s mind. But from what I have researched I can conclude that these girls who are featured on calendars are valued more than the models at least when it comes to the payment part. These girls are auditioned and selected from a list of 70-80 people and then they are clicked and featured on calendars. So, naturally they are valued more. It’s not an easy process. But what happens to them after one year? Do they get their due?    

Why did you decide to make a film on this subject?

(Smiles) It happened that I was looking for a story and I was sitting in my office. I asked him to clean the office. So, after he was done with his work he came to me with some calendars and asked me what to do with those calendars. Those calendars were really good one. I keep receiving some good calendars every year. In fact Mr. Vijay Malliya too sends me a Kingfisher Calendar every year. It is one of the best calendars that come out in this country. So, I thought what happens to all these girls who work for calendars? Where do they go after one year and that’s how the story happened. This film tells us not only about the making of a calendar but the lives of these calendar girls and their fate after one year. Fashion delved into the life and career of a model and here I focus on the career of these five girls who beat everyone to get a chance to get featured on a calendar and then what the future holds for them.

Okay, why do you always make films on real-life issues? Any particular reason?

(Laughs again) No, no, there is no particular reason. There are different kinds of films being made in this country... romantic, horror, thriller, action, comedy. In fact, I like all these kinds of films and I too want to make a romantic film or a comedy. However, I mostly made films which are close to reality and explores different professions. I have done so because I like making these kinds of films and I am comfortable making such films. I also made a film like Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, which was a comedy. But somehow for some reason I am more comfortable making these kinds of films.

Aishwarya Rai walked out of your last film Heroine and then you had to replace her with Kareena Kapoor. That must have been a difficult time for you?

See, these things are unforeseen and it can happen. There was a reason why she had to leave the film midway and though initially it might be very difficult for a director but I understand the reason why she had to leave. It doesn’t mean our relationship has soured. I am ready to work with her again and I am sure she too feels the same.

So, what are your expectations from Calendar Girls?

I am really hopeful about the film. It’s again a world that people don’t know much and I am sure the audience is curious to know about it.