In my defence: Sanjay Leela Bhansali on his reasons for attempting 10 new things in 'Ram Leela'

You know what to expect when you go to see a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. Big romance, lavish sets, searing passion, drama, and heart-melting moments. What you don’t expect? Lip-locks, Govinda style dancing, guns and an item song (by Priyanka Babli Badmaash Chopra). So why has the director attempted so many new things this time? Is this selling out? Does this mean he is bowing down to commercial dictates. Is SLB compromising to get a hit? Is this his last production Rowdy Rathore’s effect? Now that he has tasted blood, he wants the magic of Rs100-crore number at the box-office? We wanted answers and only he could give them. So here the director explains his naya avatar on the big screen. Read on... 

What: The kiss
The much talked-about lip-lock between Deepika and Ranveer is so torrid and passionate you are left wondering why the kiss was given the miss and why the kiss was not given to the Miss by SLB’s earlier heroes. SLB made the couple rehearse extensively for the smooch. For once Ranveer didn’t mind rehearsals!

SLB says Yes, there’s a kiss. But so what? Times have changed. People in love do express themselves in this way.

What: The Guns
Earlier there was no gun or even a gun-shot even in passing in SLB’s cinema. The trailer of the film shows almost every male character in Ram Leela, and some female too  carrying guns. The frames are so filled with ammunition you wonder if Shakespeare’s Romeo ever imagined he’d end being such a sun of a gun!

SLB says No character in any of my films has previously held a gun. In Ram Leela I’m making up for lost time.

What: Item song
An SLB creation has never featured an item song before. But there she is, ladies and gentlemen, Priyanka Chopra dressed only in a skimpy blouse and a thigh-high petticoat giving the villagers in this Gujju Romeo and Juliet their money’s worth.

SLB says I don’t see it as an ‘item’. It’s such a derogatory word. It’s a situation in the film. And Priyanka has never looked more sensuous. I opted for minimalist no accessories look for her.

What: Aggressive Language
Since the characters in this film are aggressive go-getters, both men and women speak strongly-worded language. Profanities occur for the first time in an SLB film. Giggle!

SLB says The language of every film is a reflection of the characters’ environment and thought processes. No need to be coy about it.

What: The ishiyon Dishkiyon song
Ranveer and Deepika borrow steps from a Govinda film for this film, synchroniused steps and crotch-thrusting features prominently.

SLB say This time I’ve really let myself go.