Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Gujarati: ; born 24 February 1963) is an Indian filmmaker, director, screenwriter, and music composer who is known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of several awards, including four National Film Awards, ten Filmfare Awards and a BAFTA nomination. In 2015, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award.
Bhansali's directorial debut was the musical romance Khamoshi (1996), that earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics). He then attained prominence in Hindi cinema with the successful love triangle Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). He then directed the period romantic drama Devdas (2002), which was nominated for Best Film Not in the English Language at BAFTA. and the drama Black (2005) became one of the most critically acclaimed Hindi films, winning him multiple Best Film Awards and Best Director Awards along with additional Best Film (Critics) at Filmfare Awards. He also won multiple National Film Awards for Devdas and Black. However, a brief period of decline followed, with Saawariya (2007) and Guzaarish (2010), though the latter, his debut as a music composer, earned favourable reviews.
Bhansali reinforced his status with direction by adaptating Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet into film with Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013), that opened to positive reviews and strong box office collections. His home production, the sports film Mary Kom (2014), earned him a third National Film Award. He built his establishment more by directing the big-scale period dramas Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018), both of which rank among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. For Bajirao Mastani, Bhansali was feliciated with National Film Award for Best Direction, as well as Filmfare Awards for Best Film and Best Director; and for Padmaavat, he won a National Film Award for Best Music Direction and Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. His next, the crime drama Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), unlike his other films was focused on a female protagonist. The film became a commercial success and garnered high critical acclaim.
As a producer, he backs films under his banner Bhansali Productions.
Early life
Sanjay Leela Bhansali was born on 24 February 1963 in Bhuleshwar, South Bombay into a Gujarati Jain family. His mother, Leela, used to sew clothes to make ends meet. He speaks Gujarati at home and loves Gujarati food, music, literature and architecture.
His sister, Bela Bhansali Sehgal, has directed Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, for which he wrote the script, while Bela's daughter, Sharmin Segal, made her debut as an actress under his production Malaal, for which he also served as fellow writer and composer.
