Struggled a lot to release Zakhm under NDA rule: Mahesh Bhatt

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said he struggled hard to release his film 'Zakhm', which was based on communal tension between two communities, in 1998 when the BJP-led NDA was at the helm.

The film depicted tension between two religions in contemporary society. The movie is said to be closely based on Mahesh Bhatt's own life, and it explores the relationship between Bhatt and his mother.

"When I made 'Zakhm' India had changed and (people) wanted non-gratifying films and wanted cinema that is of age. We had put in our own hard earned money for 'Zakhm'. I know people kept calling me names," Bhatt said at an event here for his upcoming film 'City Lights'.

"The NDA was in power at that time. I was told that I must be mad to make that film," he said. The makers unveiled a 26-minute footage of (City Lights) at the event.

"I had the toughest time to release that film. It took a lot of me to get it out there. The film was made with passion and we are glad that Ajay Devgn got a National award for it," Bhatt said.

Actors Ajay Devgn, Pooja Bhatt, Sonali Bendre, Kunal Khemu and Nagarjuna Akkineni starred in 'Zakhm'.

'City Lights' is directed by Hansal Mehta and produced by Bhatt who came on board after he saw Mehta's last directorial film 'Shahid'.

"We as a company wanted to break the mould and it was this feeling that was steering me. We delivered hit after hit. Vijay Singh (of Fox Star Studios) and I were returning from Dubai after 'Jannat' promotion when I told him that we need to reinvent ourselves as we had generated the cinema that would bring numbers. I am glad Vijay understood my thirst," Bhatt said.

"I liked the work of Rajkumar and director Hansal Mehta after seeing 'Shahid'. If I had not seen this film then I would not have done 'City Lights'. This film is not a festival film. It's an Indian film, it has an Indian story, it has fragrance of our own people and it has songs in it. It is a very brave idea to make this film," Bhatt said. He was all praises for Mehta for bringing in "new kind of cinema".

"He is making a new kind of cinema. What makes him (Hansal Mehta) deadly is that he has made a powerful film and you cannot dare him in this space. It is Patralekhaa (debutant), Hansal and Rajkumar who bring more value to our company. We have brand and infrastructure, we want to do concept-driven cinema," the filmmaker said.

The film 'City Lights' depicts the problem of rural-urban migration in the country and exploitation of such migrants in big cities.

Fox Star Studio presents 'City Lights' which is an Indian adaptation of British film 'Metro Manila'.

"The title 'City Lights' suits the story line of the film. It will cater to urban and rural audiences. It is a film for every city in India," Bhatt said. The film stars Rajkumar Rao and newcomer Patralekhaa in the lead.