Madhur Bhandarkar thanks team for believing in him as Chandni Bar turns 20

On the 20th anniversary of his iconic film Chandni Bar, director Madhur Bhandarkar thanked the producers of his film, R Mohan and Amit Mohan, for their trust. The social drama won four National awards including Best Actress (Tabu), Best Actor (Atul Kulkarni), Best Supporting Actress (Ananya Khare) and Best Film on Social Issues. 

The film heralded a change in Hindi cinema portrayed certain subjects with its gritty and realistic depiction of the early part of the millennium. Describing the process of how the film became a reality, Bhandarkar admitted that many people were unwilling to produce the film. 

In a short video shared by him, the filmmaker said, "Hello friends, Chandni bar completes 20 years today. It has been a great moment for me and the entire team. When I had started the film, it was a different concept film. I wanted to make a songless film, and it was difficult to find a producer. When I recited the concept to R Mohan and Amit Mohan, they loved it. They believed in the concept and the story. They believed in me and said, 'Madhur we should do this film'."

The producers were the first, followed by lead actress Tabu. Bhandarkar described the actress standing 'like a rock' throughout the project. Tabu essayed the lead role of Mumtaz, a young girl who arrives in Bombay and opts to be a bar girl in order to survive. The film tells the story of her journey, love, struggles, and dreams. 

Bhandarkar said, "When the film was completed, we were unsure of how people will react to it, what their response will be. When the film came out in 2001, the response was exceptional. It was successful at the box office, and won National awards."

Bhandarkar has often spoken of making a sequel to the film but has not confirmed it. The director recently said he has been working on a follow-up to the film but has not streamlined the story yet. Speaking to the Hindustan Times newspaper, he said, "I want to revisit that zone. I am intrigued. I am craving to tell that story. But I haven't streamlined it yet."