Archive · 15 Dec 2025
Madhur Bhandarkar on Chandni Bar's Budget
Madhur Bhandarkar is a famous filmmaker known for making serious movies about women.
He once said that the total cost of making his movie Chandni Bar, which won a National Award, was less than the money spent on Kareena Kapoor's clothes in his movie Heroine.
He explained that when he made Chandni Bar, he wasn't a well-known director, so he didn't get much money to make the film.
He also said that the subject of the movie and the stars involved can affect the budget.
For example, Heroine had a bigger budget because it featured big stars like Kareena Kapoor.
Bhandarkar also mentioned that even though his other movies like Page 3 and Corporate were made with small budgets, they were successful and appreciated by critics.
Madhur Bhandarkar joked that the total budget of Chandni Bar (2001) was equal to the costumes budget of Heroine (2012).
Chandni Bar, starring Tabu, was made on a small budget due to Bhandarkar's lack of establishment at the time.
Producers wanted item numbers in Chandni Bar, but Bhandarkar refused, despite the pressure after his debut film's failure.
Bhandarkar defended his budget comparison, stating that the subject and star power dictate the budget.
Films like Page 3 and Corporate were critically acclaimed and financially successful despite modest budgets.
- Who
- Madhur Bhandarkar, Tabu, Kareena Kapoor
- What
- Comparison of budgets for films Chandni Bar and Heroine
- When
- Chandni Bar (2001), Heroine (2012)
- Where
- Mumbai, India
- Why
- To highlight the difference in budget allocation based on the subject and star power
- Film
- Chandni Bar
- Year
- 2001
- Lead Actor
- Tabu
- Film
- Heroine
- Year
- 2012
- Lead Actor
- Kareena Kapoor
- Budget Comparison
- Chandni Bar's total budget was equal to Heroine's costumes budget
- Filmmaker
- Madhur Bhandarkar
