I Was Thrown Out Of The Film Institute, Says Sanjay Leela Bhansali

MUMBAI – Sanjay LeelaBhansali did his editing courseat the Film and Television Instituteof India, Pune (1985-88). While Sanjay completed hiscourse and was sent his diplomacertificate, he was kicked outof the institute and could notcomplete his diploma film thathaunts him till date. He believesthat a part of his soul is at theFilm Institute and despite havingdirected seven acclaimedfilms, he still feels a lack ofcompleteness that he believeshe may be able to achieve if hewere to someday edit anotherstudent’s film or teach there. Hegoes back to the institute everytime before starting a film. Thistime he went with the TOI postRam Leela. He spent a day withus taking us around the campuslike a little boy reliving all hismemories of the realising andbreaking of his biggest dream— the dream of being in the institutethat taught Ketan Mehtafilmmaking.What did getting into theFilm Institute mean to you?The first day I came to theinstitute was with my sister Beladi in 1982 when she wanted meto fill up the form. That time,we were not allowed in throughthe gate. Bela di got through in1982. For me, coming throughthis gate was a big thing as therewere stories of Jaya Bachchanand Kundan Shah and KetanMehta and Vinod Chopra comingout of here, sothere was always adream to come out ofthis campus. That orangegate still hauntsme. I first tried in1984 but could notget in. I tried a secondtime in 1985 andgot through and Ican never forget thatAugust rain in Punewhen my dreamcame true. I kept goingto the loo till Belacame and told me Ihad got in. There isa lane just outsidewhere Nana Patekarlives and I kept walkingthere. Getting inthe institute was theturning point in mylife.Have you changedas a person fromthe time you were astudent?I was my best andonly friend and was extremelyquiet. Sriram Raghavan stayedright next to my room and RajuHirani on the same floor but Iwould, at best, say only a helloto them. I am better now and Ican at least say hello to people.I had decided I won’t allow myselfto be ragged even though Iknew it was a way to break barrierswith other students andovercome your inhibitions. ButI found it humiliating and didnot allow it as a result and didnot form a part of the gang. Iwas very insignificant, unobtrusive,unnoticeable and made nomark at all. But people wouldfeel that I was arrogant and rudeand therefore when my momentof trouble came and I was to bechucked out of the institute, Idid not find the support comingmy way which should have as Ihad no connect with people andno one fought for me.