Happy Birthday, Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Movies that displayed the filmmaker’s exceptional vision

National award-winning director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his ambitious, larger than life projects. He stands out in the crowd in Bollywood as his ability to create visual grandeur is unmatchable.

Here is a look at 5 extraordinary masterpieces helmed by iconic director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Bajirao Mastani (2015)
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra

The epic historical romance narrates the story of the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I (1700–1740 AD) and his second wife, Mastani who struggle to make their love triumph amid opposition from his conservative family.
The Aaina Mahal in the film was said to have been made using over 20,000 intricately designed mirrors handpicked from Jaipur and 13 chandeliers to establish the regal look of the film.

Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013)
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone

The tragic romantic drama had a vibrant backdrop of rural, folksy Gujarat. It showed how Ram and Leela love each other but cannot stay together as their families have been at war with each other for the past 500 years. In the end, they both need to make a sacrifice.

Black (2005)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji

The film beautifully shows the unique relationship between a deaf-and-blind woman and her teacher Debraj Sahai. Instead of bright colours, the filmmaker opted for the colour scheme of blacks, greys, blues and whites, so that it aptly captures the world of his main character.

Devdas (2002)
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai

The film, based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, is one of the grandest movies in Indian cinema. It was also India’s official entry to the Oscars that year. The film focused on the life of Devdas who is prohibited by his wealthy family to marry the woman he is in love with. His life spirals downward as he takes up a life of vice to lessen the pain.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
Cast: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn

This cinematic gem won several hearts and bagged nine Filmfare trophies. It narrates the story of a newly-wed man who discovers that his wife is in love with another man. He decides to unite the lovers, ignoring the jibes he will have to face for this move. He takes his wife to Italy in search of her love.

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