Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
sanjay leela bhansali

Director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a man of multiple talents. He not only directs his own films but also produces and provides music for them. Known for having an eye for detail, Bhansali makes films on a grand scale. He does not shy away from making elaborate sets, instead includes them in most of his films. Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny the fact that he is a genius when it comes to making films. His work contains a rich texture, dramatic storyline, beautiful faces, and an authentic feeling to it.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali can be easily called as one of the most divisive figures in Indian cinema, but his work speaks for his eccentricities and commands respect. Today we list down some of his best films you can see to discover his cinema. Here we go

Best Films Of Sanjay Leela Bhansali 

Contents

1. Bajirao Mastani

Bajirao-Mastani
Bajirao Mastani still

Released in 2015, Bajirao Mastani can easily be called as this decades ‘Mughal-E-Azam’. The film had everything from gorgeous sets, beautiful actors, powerful performances, strong plot, and spectacular production design. Starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Priyanka Chopra the lead, the film was a love triangle.

It contained the classic tropes of a Bhansali film, with huge sets and beautifully taken shots. As Peshwa Bajirao in the film, Ranveer was electric and in top form. While playing his wives in the film, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone provided him with ample support.

The film dealt with the concepts of love, jealousy, betrayal, and injustice. Bhansali packaged all these emotions in a film whose each scene is detailed from the little ‘bindi’ on Priyanka’s forehead down to the ‘Tilak’ on Ranveer’s.

Although the film is long, Bhansali’s grand vision is enough to watch the film.

2. Black

Rani-Mukherjee-Amitabh-Bachchan-Black
Still from black

Released in 2005, Black told the story of a deaf-blind girl, Michelle who learns things from her teacher, who himself later develops Alzheimer’s disease.

The film won numerous honors, including the Filmfare Award for the best film. Time magazine had listed it in the top movies in the world in 2005. But are these awards only the reason for watching this film? Well, no there are many to watch this masterpiece.

Black showed the Indian audience the daily problems of a dead-blind person. The film showed the importance of having a teacher in life, without whom one cannot navigate this world. Far from the commercial realms of Indian films, the film connected with the audience because of its sensitive storyline.

While Bhansali should be praised for his direction and aesthetics in the film, the performances of its lead actors are equally impressive too. A heartwarming and gut-wrenching film.

3. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

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Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan from Hun Dil De Chuke Sanam

To be or not to be? This was the question which the film’s lead character Nandini(Aishwarya) had to answer. It was a story of her conflict between choosing her husband (Ajay Devgn) and Sameer (Salman Khan) whom she loved.

An instant Blockbuster when it released the film had a unique take on love. Shot in Rajasthan and Hungary, it was Bhansali’s first film to feature his trademark huge sets, exotic locations, and beautiful costumes. The film’s music composed by Ismail Darbar and Anjan Biswas became so popular that people hum its songs even today.

The highlight of this film was Aishwarya Rai’s performance as Nandini. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam showed her acting chops which also fetched her a Filmfare Award For Best Actress. To further highlight this film’s importance in Bhansali’s career, it fetched him his first Filmfare trophy for Best Director.

4. Padmaavat

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Padmaavat lead actors

Bhansali’s latest film and his most successful at the box office, Padmaavat. Based on Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s epic poem ‘Padmavat’, this film was about a tyrannical Muslim ruler, Allauddin Khilji, and his lust for Rani Padmavati of Chittor which leads to his battle with Maharawal Ratan Singh, husband of Padmavati.

At the time of its release, the film caused a huge uproar as many claimed it disrespectful towards the Rajput community. Though, all this subsided once the film released.

As a film, it again highlighted Bhansali’s penchant for making grand visuals. The film had a strong performance at the box office, grossing over Rs 300 crore and showed how the valor of Rajputs.

The film was titled Padmaavat but Bhansali had clearly given his blue-eyed boy, Ranveer Singh playing the role of the villain, Khilji more screen space than anyone else. Singh repaid his director’s trust as he gave one of the best villainous performances in Hindi cinema. He single-handedly drove the film towards success, with his performance easily describable as “epic”.

Bhansali even showed his deft music sense with the film, composing brilliant and brilliant songs such as Binte Dil and Khalibali, both of which became chartbusters.

5. Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela

Deepika-Padukone-Ranveer-Singh-Goliyon-Ki-Rasleel-Ram-Leela
Deepika and Ranveer in a still from the film

Called a desi adaption of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, this was a tragic romance drama. It was a story about Ram and Leela, two lovers belonging to the rival gang families.

This film was the first time, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone were paired opposite each other, the result of which became a blockbuster film. Their chemistry in the film was so fiery that it led to drawing audiences to theatres in huge numbers to see the film.

Set in Gujarat, this was one film, which was less intense than all other Bhansali films. It had more vibrant colors, rich choreography, tender moments, and unmatched music. Goliyon Ki Rasleelea Ram-Leela was a film more centered around its lead actors than other characters in the film, although this proved to be its main drawing point.

The film fetched Deepika a Filmfare Award For Best Actress and introduced Ranveer Singh as Bhansali’s new favorite boy, replacing Salman Khan.

6. Devdas

Shahrukh-Khan-Aishwarya-Rai-Devdas
Shahrukh and Aishwarya in Devdas

This film has a huge significance for Indian cinema, it was selected by Empire Magazine as one of the best films in its list of  100 Best Films Of World Cinema” in 2010. Devdas starred Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Jackie Shroff in lead.

Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel of the same name, it tells the story of a wealthy man, Devdas who returns from London after completing his law studies to marry his childhood sweetheart, Paro. When his family rejects Paro, he becomes an alcoholic seeking refugee in a courtesan.

As dramatic as the film’s story was it showed Shahrukh’s prowess as a leading man and Bhansali’s ability to mount big films. At the time of its release, Devdas was the most expensive Indian film. Critics both from India and the west, rank this film as one of the greatest Indian films, a fact that can be easily seen while watching the film.

The film’s dramatic dialogues such as SRK’s famous line ‘Kaun Kambakht Bardaasht Karne Ko Peeta Hai’… made the film all the more memorable and famous amongst the audience.

The film’s sets contained one of the most beautiful chandeliers ever seen in movie history, which audiences still recall.

7. Khamoshi: The Musical

Khamoshi-The-Musical
Khamoshi: The Musical, poster

This was Bhansali’s first film as a director. Starring Manisha Koirala, Salman Khan, and Nana Patekar, Khamoshi was about a deaf-mute couple who have a daughter named, Annie. She falls in love with Raj (Salman), even though her father disproves of Raj and marries him. A tragic accident binds all of them together, which further forms the film’s story.

Released in 1996, the film became a flop at the box office though many praised it over the years. Manisha Koirala’s performance was praised by everyone and fetched her a second consecutive Filmfare Critics Award For Best Actress.

The film had lovely music and unlike other Bhansali films, it was not grand in size mainly because it was his debut film. However, the film had many tender moments between Manisha and Nana Patekar(playing her father) in the film. People had loved Nana’s performance as a deaf father.

It showed glimpses of talent Bhansali had which was yet to mature but was enough to fetch him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film. The way Bhansali had shown a sensitive story at a time when people were not mature enough showed his prowess.

Even though Bhansali has directed 9 films, these rank amongst his best work till date. The director is a true auteur and a gem of Indian cinema.

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4 thought on “List of 7 most popular, top Films by Sanjay Leela Bhansali”
  1. Deepika and Ranveer are a wonderful couple both in their personal lives and in the movies they starred in. They are a real couple and this is clear. Ranveer is captivated by Deepika’s wife, and she loves her husband very much.
    They have many things in common that attract them in particular, developing a love, chemistry, unparalleled passion.
    They are unique, beautiful, sexy, emanate joy, complement each other with elegance without making any effort.
    They will remain in bollywood history as a bright and talented couple! Endless Love!

    1. What a beautiful pair the SLB managed to make. He has a perfect mind when he saw the physical and human affinities between Deepika & Ranveer. With this pair, he made 3 films, one more beautiful than the other, films that will remain as a landmark in universal cinema, watched with great pleasure, especially through the participation of the 2 wonderful, talented and suitable actors. The connection and extraordinary chemistry between Deepika & Ranveer can be expressed in one simple phrase: “WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND SUITABLE AND GOD LIKES IT” They were both very lucky to have met at the right time and stayed together!
      In the movie Ramleela they have an incredible phase with their deadly kiss. A mating and a chemistry rarely found even in movies. Ranveer’s technique and passion for embracing the sensual Deepika, as well as their 10+ kiss are fabulous. I repeat, THEIR KISS is certainly among the most amazing in the film industry, along with others in Hollywood, an opinion shared by directors, directors, screenwriters, etc. in the field, without any exaggeration. I think that if you let them kiss again they could do it a lot and well, they intertwined so well, very hard to stop them!
      Their bodies with the kiss represent the identical statue from the historical film POMPEII from about 2000 years ago. RANVEER AND DEEPIKA HAVE MADE THE MILLENNIAL KISS!

  2. Mr. Bhansali is a great director. All these seven films which he has directed are very good to watch. Eagerly waiting his latest movie Gamgubai Kathiawadi to watch. The only way to watch here in Zagreb, Croatia is to watch on Netflix.

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