Sanjay Leela Bhansali Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Profession(s): Film Director, Producer, Music Director, Screenwriter

Date of Birth: 24 February 1963 (Sunday)

Age (as of 2025): 62 Years

Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Zodiac sign: Pisces

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Religion: Hinduism

Caste: Kshatriya (Solanki)

Age: 62 Years

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EDUCATION

College: Film and Television Institute of India, Pune

Educational Qualification: Course in Editing

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters- 174 cm in meters- 1.74 m in Feet Inches- 5’ 8½”

Weight (approx.): in Kilograms- 73 kg in Pounds- 161 lbs

Body Measurements (approx.): – Chest: 40 Inches – Waist: 32 Inches – Biceps: 12 Inches

Eye Colour: Dark Brown

Hair Colour: White

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Family: Father – Navin Bhansali (Film Producer) Mother – Leela Bhansali (used to stitch clothes) Brothers – N/A Sister – Bela Segal

Song: Mor Bani Thanghat Kare (Gujarati Folk Song)

Marital Status: Unmarried

Affairs/Girlfriends: Vaibhavi Merchant , Choreographer (Ex-fiancee)

Wife/Spouse: N/A

Children: Son – N/A Daughter – N/A

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Debut: Film (Director): Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) Film (Music Director): Guzaarish (2010) TV Debut (As a Judge) : Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa Season 1 (2006)

Awards: National Film Awards • Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for Devdas in 2002 • Best Feature Film in Hindi for Black in 2005 • Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for Mary Kom in 2014 • Best Director for Bajirao Mastani in 2015 • Best Music Director for Padmaavat in 2018 • Best Screenplay and Best Editing for the film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ on 17 October 2023 Filmfare Awards • Best Film (Critics) for Khamoshi: The Musical in 1997 • Best Film for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 2000 • Best Director for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 2000 • Best Director for Devdas in 2003 • Best Film for Black in 2006 • Best Film (Critics) for Black in 2006 • Best Director for Black in 2006 • Best Film for Bajirao Mastani in 2015 • Best Director for Bajirao Mastani in 2016 • Best Music Director for Padmaavat in 2019 • Best Film for Gangubai Kathiawadi in 2023 • Best Director for Gangubai Kathiawadi in 2023

OTHER INFORMATION

Hobbies: Reading poetry, listening to vintage music

Movies: Bollywood: Mughal-E-Azam (1960) Hollywood: Ship of Theseus (2012)

Musician: A. R. Rahman

Vocalist: Bade Ghulam Ali Khan

Actors: Dada Kondke, Dilip Kumar

Actresses: Helen, Madhuri Dixit

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

From a young age, Sanjay Leela Bhansali was immersed in the world of cinema, growing up in the vibrant atmosphere created by his father, Navin Bhansali, a film producer. This early exposure to actors and directors sparked in him a deep fascination with the art of direction. By the time he reached the second standard, Sanjay had already made the pivotal decision to pursue a career in filmmaking, a choice that would shape his life and career in profound ways. However, his father’s struggles in the industry imparted both caution and insight into the often turbulent nature of the film world, instilling in Sanjay an understanding of the challenges that awaited him.

Before stepping into the limelight as a director, Bhansali honed his craft as an assistant to acclaimed filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Their collaboration on films such as “Parinda” in 1989 and “1942: A Love Story” in 1994 provided Sanjay with invaluable experience. However, tension arose when Bhansali chose not to collaborate on their third project, “Kareeb” in 1998, leading to a significant fallout between the two. This marked a turning point in Bhansali’s career as he prepared to embark on his own directorial journey.

His debut film, “Khamoshi: The Musical,” received critical acclaim but fell short at the box office. Yet, success was on the horizon, as his sophomore effort, “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” in 1999, featuring luminaries like Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, and Ajay Devgan, became a resounding blockbuster. While Bhansali’s calm demeanor often graced the screen, he was known for his fiery temperament behind the scenes, a trait that reportedly led to a rift with Salman Khan, resulting in a complete breakdown of their professional relationship.

The trajectory of Bhansali’s career soared further with the release of “Devdas,” which achieved the distinction of being the highest-grossing film of 2002. This success paved the way for his creative ventures beyond traditional cinema; in 2008, he staged the opera “Padmavati,” an adaptation of Albert Roussel’s ballet, at the illustrious Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The production was met with overwhelming acclaim, receiving a punctuated fifteen minutes of standing ovation at the Festival Dei Due Mondi. In 2013, Bhansali adapted Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” into “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela,” which not only grossed over 100 Crore INR but also marked Deepika Padukone’s fourth blockbuster that year.

Bhansali’s collaboration with Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone again yielded critical success, culminating in the “National Award for Best Director” for “Bajirao Mastani.” Interestingly, this project, which he had first announced in 2003, took eleven years to come to fruition. An introverted persona, Bhansali avoids the social scene in Bollywood, often shying away from parties and public events. His work continues to garner accolades, as evidenced by his win for “Best Music Direction” at the National Film Awards for “Padmaavat” in 2019. As of January 2023, his film “Gangubai Kathiawadi” was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as one of the 301 feature films eligible for the Oscars, a testament to Bhansali’s enduring impact on Indian cinema.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.