As his upcoming film O’Romeo gears up for release, we bring to you a flashback interview of Vishal Bhardwaj, revisiting his surprising confession that he once made. Known for his intense storytelling and fierce characters, the filmmaker had once revealed that long before becoming a music composer or director, he actually wanted to be a gangster.
His films have often explored themes of crime, politics, power and the underworld. With O’Romeo reportedly set against the backdrop of post-independence Mumbai and its shifting criminal landscape, the resurfaced conversation feels even more relevant today.
Vishal Bhardwaj: Flashback To His Early Days In Cinema As Music Director
For those unaware, before stepping into directio Vishal Bhardwaj made a name for himself as a music composer and singer in Bollywood. He worked on acclaimed films like Maachis, Satya, Chachi 420,Godmother and more. In fact, he won the National Award for Best Music Direction for Godmother in 1999.
In an old exclusive interview with Lehren, recorded around the time of his National Award win, he spoke openly about his journey, ambitions and evolving dreams.
When asked who he would like to credit the award to, he responded, “Sabse pehle apne aap ko, ya apne se pehle Khuda ko dena chahiye. Uske baad apne aap ko dena chahiye aur doston ko, parents ko, aur jin sab logon ne mujhe madad ki yahan tak pahunchne mein — Gulzar saab ko, Javed saab ko. Matlab, ek naam hai hi nahi.”
“Maine Music Composer Banne Ki Bahut Baadme Sochi”
During the same interaction, he was additionally asked about why he didn’t dedicate the award to the thought when he wanted to become a music director. That’s when he made an unexpected revelation.
He said, “Nahi, maine music composer banne ki bahut baad mein sochi.”
O’Romeo director then spoke about the dreams he had before entering the film industry, “Usse pehle main cricketer banna chahta tha, phir main music director banna chahta tha. Ab main director banna chahta hoon, aur un sabse pehle bhi… main gangster banna chahta tha,” he shared with a smile.
He even explained why that idea once crossed his mind, “Mujhe laga ki yeh sabse aasan tareeka hai mere liye pahunchne ka film line mein apna peher jamane ka. Baaki khwaab abhi badhte ja rahe hain aur horizon bhi uske saath peeche hote ja raha hai.”
Looking back now, it almost feels like those thoughts shaped the tone of many of his films.
“I Feel Like A Gangster At Heart”
Also once in an old conversation at Film Bazaar 2018, Vishal Bhardwaj had once again referred to that side of himself. While speaking about how filmmaking allows him to live many lives, he was asked about the violence in his films. With a smile, he said, “I feel like a gangster at heart,” leading to laughter and applause from the audience.
Today, he is one of the few filmmakers who has successfully balanced music, writing and direction- seamlessly blending everything into one project. From Maqbool and Omkara to Haider and Kaminey, his filmography reflects a strong connection to crime dramas and morally complex characters.
Now, he is ready with O’Romeo, set to release on 13 February 2025 , starring epic ensemble cast including Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Tamannaah Bhatia, Nana Patekar, Farida Dalal, Avinash Tiwary among others.
Full interview below:
Sometimes, the most unexpected dreams lead to the most defining careers. From wanting to be a cricketer, gangster to becoming one of India’s most respected filmmakers, his journey proves that ambitions evolve but passion remains constant. And maybe that “gangster at heart” still quietly fuels his storytelling.
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source https://lehren.com/before-music-composer-director-i-wanted-to-be-a-gangster-o-romeo-vishal-bhardwaj-in-unseen-interview/
