Sanjay Leela Bhansali's career had started off on a rather rough note with Khamoshi. Why? The film, which had a novel idea failed to spread magic at the box office. Ask Bhansali about it and he retorts, "If I would have made Khamoshi in today's times, maybe it would have worked. I feel the film was way ahead of its times."
Although his actors Nana Patekar and Manisha Koirala stepped aside, Salman stuck around with Sanjay, helping him come out of the depression he was going through after his maiden directorial venture bombed at the box office. Ever since then, there was a special bond that existed between him and Salman Khan. But that didn't last forever. Despite Salman being his original choice for Bajirao Mastani, Sanjay Bhansali went on to make the film with Ranveer Singh instead. And when the two recently met on Bigg Boss, the superstar did take a jibe at the Gen-Y actor on that.
While in our latest interview, Sanjay claimed that he's unsure of the reason why Salman is still upset with him, when reputed journalist Rajeev Masand quizzed him on the same, he broke his silence. Is their friendship on or off? "Right now, it is off," he laughs adding, "Salman is a very dear friend of mine. Never have I said a word wrong against him nor will I ever say anything. What he's done for me is incredible. He is a brilliant mind in his own way and he's always stood by me. He has always been very good to me."
What went wrong? Salman was visibly upset that despite him always being there for SLB, he went ahead to make Devdas with Shah Rukh Khan and not him. Has it remained the bone of contention between the two? "Maybe I could not make a film with him. If I felt or I am wanting to make a certain kind of cinema and I feel he is not right for the film, I can't cast him. I understand he will be upset for that because he expects that out of me. He expects a certain kind of love and loyalty. But sometimes, it's important to do the film that you want to. However ruthless I may sound, but as a filmmaker, I live that film I'm making. I am not disregarding him as an actor. Today, it doesn't matter whether I am making a film with him or not because he is cult. He stands there and the film does 300 crores."
Is a film on the cards with Salman? "I am dying to do a film with him. But the onus is on him and it all depends on him now," SLB told Masand.
