"The huge barrage of criticism hasn't prevented people from appreciating my merger of raga-based melodies with a Broadway-styled play. Only a handful of critics are trying to influence the audience to go against the film. The final verdict comes from the unbiased viewer," he added. 

Ranbir, Sonam & Salman party with cricketers 

Based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's play White Nights and starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, the film has collected an estimated Rs.500-570 million in India over its opening weekend. 

Sonam Kapoor launches new hair products from Dove 

"It has got the biggest opening ever in the history of Indian cinema with two newcomers in the lead," Bhansali claimed. Excerpts from the interview: 

Q: The collections worldwide for Saawariya seem to be at loggerheads with some of the reviews at home. 

A: You tell me when, where and how these negative stories about Saawariya come from. It collected an estimated Rs.500-570 million in India over its opening weekend. This is biggest opening for an Indian film with newcomers in the lead. 

Song & dance in Bhansali's movies 

Q: Commercial success has never been a problem for you. 

A: Saawariya has got the biggest opening ever in the history of Indian cinema with two newcomers in the lead. And it opened with a film featuring the biggest star of the country. Yes, some people find Saawariya a little slow in pace. But most people love what I've done. Media manipulation won't kill my film. I'm open to healthy criticism and debate. But not prejudiced criticism. In the opening weekend we've had massive audiences all over the world connecting with the film. 

The predicted Box Office failure of Saawariya has not dampened the career propspects of the film's lead pair, as both Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor have been approached by numerous directors over the weekend. 

“But what I am really crossing my fingers to do is another film with Mr Bhansali. He just has to say when and I am on. He has taught me every thing I know about acting,” said Ranbir on his future in Bollywood. Ranbir is expected to start work on a Yash Raj film within days. 

onam Kapoor is expected to sign up to star opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Dilli 6, and has also been approached by David Dhawan for a comedy role opposite Salman Khan.

Images: Music launch of Sanjay Bhansali's Saawariya  Q: Are audiences having a tough time accepting Saawariya because you've built another kind of expectation through your earlier films?  A: The huge barrage of criticism hasn't prevented people from appreciating my merger of raga-based melodies with a Broadway-styled play. As far as I'm concerned, people love Saawariya. Only a handful of critics are trying to influence the audience to go against the film. They didn't succeed with Devdas. They won't succeed in conditioning the audience's mind. The final verdict comes from the unbiased viewer. And the audience is far more intelligent than me or the learned critics.  Stills from Sanjay Bhansali's Saawariya My effort to merge art with commerce cannot go to waste. If today Bimal Roy made Sujata or Do Bigha Zameen he'd be slammed by critics. They'd destroy him. Where are films like Bandini and Jagte Raho today? Once in a blue moon we get a film like 36 Chowringhee Lane.  Q: A lot of people have commented on the imaginary world that you've created.

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Q: People think you are too enamoured of the studio style of filmmaking. 

A: And what is wrong with that? I find the atmosphere in a studio creatively liberating. Just as you cannot record a song without a studio, I can't make a film without the studio atmosphere. I carry within myself indelible influences of Bimal Roy, K. Asif, Raj Kapoor and Vijay Anand. They created their cinematic world on a studio floor. Of course, real locations are also beautiful. I opted to film Saawariya in a certain studio-generated atmosphere and a certain colour that to me represented the flavour of love. 

Spotted: Saawariya's lead pair on the small screen 

I think the magic of cinema lies in the director's ability to create his own world. And that's the abstract world, which audiences are connecting to in Saawariya. Even in Satyajit Ray's masterpiece Pather Panchali, realism is finally only an illusion. 

Q: Would you say filmmakers today are trying to persuade us into believing that cinema is about joy and laughter? 

A: Not all, only some filmmakers who are trying to take cinema back to the 1970s and 80s and some critics who have made the crappiest films are sitting in judgement over filmmakers who dare to dream. They've an agenda behind their opinion.They must remember one thing - good art can never be stifled. They tried to write off Madan Mohan by saying his soundtracks didn't succeed. Today he's the most revered music composer. 

A sneak peek at Saawariya's sets 

Q: Raj Kapoor's influence is predominant. 

A: Why not? I wanted my impressions and influences of Raj Kapoor to be prominent when his grandson was being launched. And what a grand grandson Ranbir is! I wanted Raj Kapoor's blessings for my film. His Ram Teri Ganga Maili is one of my 10 favourite films of all times. Saawariya has a lot of RK's Awara, Barsaat and Shri 420. We need to re-acquaint audiences with masters of our cinema like Raj Kapoor. 

Q: Why did you decide to adapt Fyodor Dostoevsky's play White Nights? 

A: Why shouldn't I? If I did Saratchandra Chattopadhyay (Devdas), why not international litterateurs? I also want to do Shakespeare and other world classics. I want to adapt all kinds of literature. Dostoevsky's White Nights was written in the 19th century but is relevant to this day. The truth about love and sacrifice doesn't alter from era to era, or through different time zones. 

Q: Happy with the outcome of Saawariya so far? 

A: According to me, it's the biggest hit of my career so far. I'm proud I've created a superstar in Ranbir Kapoor.

The predicted Box Office failure of Saawariya has not dampened the career propspects of the film’s lead pair, as both Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor have been approached by numerous directors over the weekend.

“But what I am really crossing my fingers to do is another film with Mr Bhansali. He just has to say when and I am on. He has taught me every thing I know about acting,” said Ranbir on his future in Bollywood. Ranbir is expected to start work on a Yash Raj film within days.

Sonam Kapoor is expected to sign up to star opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Dilli 6, and has also been approached by David Dhawan for a comedy role opposite Salman Khan

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