Interview with Sanjay Chhel - Director of Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam

The multi talented Sanjay Chhel, has been a successful writer, director and lyricist for over a decade and has already left an indelible mark in the Hindi Film industry. Sanjay has a unique combination of having his roots in Gujrati-Hindi theatre, popular trend setting television writing and a strong base in Indian literature.Making his mark in the early nineties, Sanjay introduced the concept of "feel good cinema" which went on to become the mantra of present day Bollywood. This was the time when Hindi films were galore with trash action, cheap comedies and routine melodrama. As a celebrated writer, Sanjay has worked with lot of renowned film directors including Ram Gopal Verma (Rangeela, Daud), Aziz Mirza (Yes Boss, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani), Santosh Sivan (Halo- National Award winner) and with Satish Kaushik, Milan Luthria, Priyadarshan, Rahul Rawail, Kundan Shah, Sudhir Mishra, Saeed Mirza, Ashok Pandit, Subhash Ghai etc. Sanjay has been nominated 16 times as a writer for all the leading film awards for fims like "Yes Boss", "Rangeela", "Khubsoorat" and "Halo". At the young age of 29, Sanjay wrote and directed his first commercial success "Khoobsurat (2000)" starring Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar. This film was instrumental in changing Sanjay Dutt's action image to that of a versatile actor. Sanjay won immense critical acclaim through "Khubsoorat" [**** rating by Times of India -"Charming comedy" Nikhat Kazmi) and Indian Express ("sure fire entertainer"). Sanjay went on to direct the youthful lovestory "Kyaa dil ne kaha"[2003] starring Tusshar Kapoor and Esha Deol, still fresh in memory for its chartbuster music ("Nikamma Kiya" written by Sanjay himself) and path breaking subject.Prior to films, Sanjay Chhel proved his mettle in the television industry, which at that time was reeling under the onslaught of mythological and issue based serious shows. Sanjay changed the trend with path breaking writing in the hugely popular TV serial 'Nukkad', "Filmy Chakkar", "Philips Top Ten", "Hamari Bahu Malini Iyer" among others, which went on to win a lot of accolades and awards.Some of the super hit songs penned by Sanjay include "Nikamma kiya is dil ne","Mahobbat hai mirchi"," "Bindas"," Ghongaht mein chand hoga"," Mera ek sapna hai", "Ishq hai tumse", "Aye Shivani", "Bahut khubsoorat" etc, teaming up successfully with hit music directors like Himesh Reshammiya, Jatin Lalit and Annu Malik, to name a few.
Sanjay's recent work includes the hottest upcoming comedy "Partner " (starring Salman khan, Govinda) with the badshah of comedy David Dhawan. Also on the anvil is "Lucky Charm" (Shahid Kapur, Vidya Balan) for Aziz Mirza. Touted by the industry as "the king of oneliners", Sanjay is currently working for Percept Picture Company as a writer cum director for their upcoming cross culture comedy "Khanna-Patel"- "Maan Gaye Mugleaazam"
by Rajendra Ganotra, India Bureau, Mumbai