I was never a closed individual: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

The 48-year-old filmmaker said his work has completely changed his image.

New Delhi: He makes intense films full of passion but filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali says he is an extrovert and fun-loving person in real life.

The 48-year-old filmmaker, who has films like `Saawariya`, `Black`, `Devdas`, `Khamoshi: The Musical` to his credit, said his work has completely changed his image. "I was never a closed individual. It is surprising that people think that I am a serious and tantrum throwing director. The thing is that I am extremely opposite to what people think about me. "Even when I was making `Black`, a real serious film, I was having a lot of fun on the sets with my actors. However, an image has been built around me due to the kind of work that I do and people feel that I am a very intense person," Bhansali told reporters. His last release was a comedy `My Friend Pinto` and the director-producer says it was a conscious effort to produce the film to show the audience his lighter side. "I wanted to show the other side of me. To be very honest, when Raghav (the film`s director) narrated the script to me, I was smiling throughout. I found his screenplay to be really choreographed with a lot of funny moments. I liked it a lot as it touched my heart. "When a story narration does something like that to you, you want to stand by the director and support them. I thought it would be a good idea to make this film," he added. His forthcoming releases are Akshay Kumar starrer `Rowdy Rathore` and `Shirin Farhad Ki Nikal Padi` which are commercial films to be produced by him. "Due to preconceived notions, not many associate with me nor with my films. So, I have shifted my gear to some light-hearted cinema and this too is one side of me," Bhansali said. But soon, the ace filmmaker will be seen donning the hat of the director once again. "Well, definitely yes, there is a strong urge to direct again. In fact the script is currently being written and I have things lined up. "In May, I should begin shooting my next film as a director. In any case it hasn`t been that long since I brought a film of mine on floors. I have always worked at my own pace and never made films in hurry," he said. PTI