Veteran Bollywood actor Raza Murad has offered an insight into filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s demanding working style, claiming that the acclaimed director has lost his temper with both crew members and some of the biggest stars in the Indian film industry.
Speaking during an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Murad, 75, discussed Bhansali’s personality on film sets and described him as a filmmaker who remains deeply focused on achieving the exact creative result he has in mind.
According to Murad, Bhansali’s occasional outbursts are primarily connected to his professional expectations rather than personal disputes. The veteran actor suggested that the director can become frustrated when those around him fail to understand or deliver the precise vision he wants for a particular scene.
Murad explained that Bhansali does not necessarily begin a project or a working day in an angry mood. However, his temperament can change when he feels that the work is not progressing according to his expectations.
The actor also claimed that Bhansali’s frustration is not limited to junior members of a production team. Murad said he has personally seen the filmmaker raise his voice at prominent Bollywood actors, including Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, during different projects.
For Murad, this intense approach is part of Bhansali’s commitment to filmmaking rather than simply a matter of personality. He compared Bhansali’s working style with that of legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, another director known for his strong creative control and perfectionist approach.
Murad said both filmmakers were prepared to spend additional time and resources if necessary to achieve the result they wanted on screen. According to him, factors such as shooting schedules, production costs, set arrangements and artists’ dates could become secondary when a filmmaker was determined to complete a sequence according to his vision.
The actor explained that a scene originally expected to take a few days could take considerably longer if the director believed more work was needed. For such filmmakers, he suggested, completing the sequence correctly mattered more than finishing it within the original schedule.
Murad’s comparison carries particular significance because he has worked with both Raj Kapoor and Bhansali. His association with Kapoor includes appearances in films such as Prem Rog, Ram Teri Ganga Maili and Henna.
He has also been part of several major Bhansali productions, including Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat and Gangubai Kathiawadi. His experience with both filmmakers gives him a perspective on the similarities between their approaches to cinema.
Bhansali is widely recognised for his visually elaborate productions, detailed performances and highly controlled filmmaking style. His films often involve extensive sets, elaborate costumes, music and carefully constructed sequences, making precision an important part of the production process.
Raza Murad’s latest comments therefore provide an inside perspective on the intensity that can accompany such ambitious filmmaking. His remarks also highlight how different directors manage pressure and communicate their expectations while working with large casts and production teams.
Rather than portraying Bhansali’s temper as purely personal, Murad presented it as closely connected to the filmmaker’s pursuit of perfection. His observations offer Bollywood fans a glimpse into what working with one of India’s most prominent contemporary directors can be like behind the scenes.
