Nagraj Manjule’s Sairat broke records at the box office by becoming the highest-grossing Marathi film, earning Rs 100 crore. His earlier work Fandry had left the conventional industry banners speechless with its story, treatment, and actors. In 2011, his film Pistulya won him a National Award.

An outsider, Manjule, made an indisputable mark on the Marathi film industry. But it was not an easy journey for the filmmaker. He came to Mumbai to become a bus driver. “It began in 1996 and I came to the city of dreams to become a bus driver. I became a director accidentally. I belong to a poor household and after finishing high school I wanted to earn and decided to become a driver of a state bus or a conductor. Eventually, I also wanted to become a professor but was not academically strong. I joined the police after finishing high school but never felt happy there. Someone asked me to join a journalism course and that is when I made a short film – it won the National award and that gave me a push. I then made Fandry and that also won two National awards. It gave me the motivation to write more and eventually honed my skills and made Sairat and now Jhund.”

He adds, “I never thought of becoming a director, and making a film with Amitabh Bachchan has been a big achievement. I feel satisfied but want to explore more. I don’t dream big. I prefer to take things as they come.”

Jhund released in theatres on March 4th, and is currently showing in cinemas.

(Featured Image Credits: Special arrangement)