After the arrest of aspiring actress Preeti Jain for a plot to kill him, Madhur Bandarkar is in the news again. In conversation with Subhash K Jha, the man behind movies like Page 3 and Chandni Bar says he is "just a poor director" and wonders why anyone would want to kill him.
The director also says that Jain's earlier accusation that he had sexually exploited her things have become difficult for newcomers to the film industry.
How did you react to the revelation that Preei Jain had paid a supari (money given to underworld operatives to kill) against you?
My family and I had already gone through a lot in this matter earlier. Now suddenly this comes up. Can a person really go to this extent to get revenge? Why talk about killing me? I'm just a poor director.
Everyone presumed the jamboree had died down.
That's the whole point. After the high court and sessions court rejected her application three times this was her way of getting back. It's shocking. Let the police investigate the matter now and see who is linked with this whole shocking revelation.
(Underworld don-turned politician) Arun Gawli says he wanted to warn you.
See, the case is between the Mumbai police and the person Pardesi, who was supposedly hired to kill me. I'm a person who walks alone 7 km from my house to a temple every Tuesday. Now all of us in my family are scared for my life. I'm scared to step out. For me it's shocking to even think that anyone can go to these lengths.
Are you getting security?
I'm definitely going to speak to the authorities. If they feel I need security I will go for it. I'm supposed to start my new film next month. And I will. I've learnt to be strong after she (Jain) first came out with her allegations. Then came Page 3 and it went on to be the first hit (movie) of the year, then a silver jubilee and then the National Award. That gave me back my self-confidence. Success is a great confident-booster.
You sound fearful yet defiant.
All said and done, this kind of extreme provocation does scare you a lot. I'm very disturbed. Earlier, when the matter was in the court, we were fighting within civil boundaries. Now when it has gone to the underworld anything can happen to me. I feel I'm in danger now. In a couple of days I will decide how to cope with this crisis.
Do you think now the sympathy factor will swing completely away from her?
I just don't understand when the matter was in court why she had to go to such extreme lengths. The high court has already said she's trying to implicate Bhandarkar and that she's too ambitious for her own good. Maybe that's why she got anxious.
Do you think the Jain episode has made things difficult for newcomers in the film industry?
Very very difficult. I've worked with top actresses like Tabu, Konkona (Sen) and Raveena (Tandon). Now I'll cast newcomers only when they're recommended by someone whom I believe. I have two casting assistants to look into the casting. It's sad for genuinely talented newcomers who are not well connected. Now producers are very cautious. Some even put cameras in their offices after I was accused. Anyone can plant someone to malign a filmmaker.
How has your wife reacted to the latest allegation?
She was out doing up our new home. When the news broke on the channels she left everything and came home to be with me. If my wife hadn't supported me through this I'd have been shattered.
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