Q: You've hopped genres with "Dil Toh Bachcha
Hai Ji"? At a time when female-centric films like "No
One Killed Jessica" are doing well why the change to male-centric
cinema?
A: I like to surprise everyone including myself. It's not easy
when you move out of your comfort zone. Firstly, I was not making
a chick flick. This is a boys' film. People close to me know
I've a good sense of humour. In fact, all my actors Bipasha
Basu, Konkona Sen Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Tabu... they all
said, 'Madhur tu kitna hansata hai'. So I thought, why not a
comedy? But I never thought it'd be so difficult.
I wanted to go back to the comedies of Basu Chatterjee and
Hrishikesh Mukherjee. My aim for comedy was not Rohit Shetty's
"Golmaal" but Hrishida's "Golmaal".
Q: Is it true that you were supposed to make a film
on Jessica Lal?
A: Yes, I was going to make a film on Jessica Lal. In fact,
I had told UTV's Ronnie Screwvala that I liked the idea of making
a film on the Jessica Lal case. I had registered the title "Jessica"
after my film "Satta". If you remember in that film
Raveena Tandon's husband played by Sameer Dharamadhikari had
shot a bar girl in the film. He shoots the girl when she says
'Bar band hai'.
I saw "No One Killed Jessica". Rajkumar Gupta has
done a fine job. I had liked his "Aamir" too. It's
very well performed and shot. So the case rests there. Every
day as a filmmaker you come up with a new idea.
Q: What next for Madhur?
A: I am a great admirer of Raj Khosla and Vijay Anand. Can
you believe the same director who made "Guide" also
made "Jewel Thief". I'd like to be known for all genres.
I want to make an intense love story like "Ek Duuje Ke
Liye". I also want to make a thriller like "Teesri
Manzil". But, yes, hard-hitting women-centric cinema is
my forte.
Q: You are a huge fan of Gulzar, aren't you?
A: Oh yes I'm hugely influenced by the cinema of Gulzar saab.
I consider it a big compliment when people refer to me as a
new-age Gulzar. I know each and every film and lyric that he
has written by heart. In "Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji" even
the title is a tribute to Gulzar saab.
I acquired the rights of Gulzar saab's song "Koi hota
jisko apna" from "Mere Apne" and used it in "Dil
Toh Baccha Hai Ji". It's one of my favourite songs written
by Gulzar saab. 'Aur kya composition kiya hai Salil Chowdhary
ne!' It would be criminal to change the track in any way. I've
used it in the original form. Who can sing like Kishore da today?