Surprising it may sound but believe Sanjay Leela Bhansali was kicked out of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune and could not complete his diploma course in film making and directing, though he completed the editing diploma in 1985-88. Recollecting his past Sanjay Leela Bhansali, now an acclaimed film maker, says that void still looms large in his heart. He feels that the void in him might get filled if he gets a chance to edit one of the student's film. It is a sacred ritual for him to visit the institute before or after making or releasing a movie.

Narrating his experience at the institute, Bhansali tells that the first day he came to the institute was with his sister Bela di in 1982 when she wanted him to fill up the form. That time, they were not allowed in through the gate. Bela di got through in 1982. For him, coming through this gate was a big thing as there were stories of Jaya Bachchan and Kundan Shah and Ketan Mehta and Vinod Chopra coming out of here, so there was always a dream to come out of this campus. That orange gate still haunts him. He first tried in 1984 but could not get in. he tried a second time in 1985 and got through and he can never forget that August rain in Pune when his dream came true. He kept going to the loo till Bela came and told him that he had got in. Getting in the institute was the turning point in his life.


Bhansali reveals that he was his best and only friend and remained extremely quiet. Sriram Raghavan stayed right next to his room and Raju Hirani on the same floor but he would, at best, say only a hello to them. He was better now and he can at least say hello to people. He had decided he won't allow himself to be ragged even though he knew it was a way to break barriers with other students and overcome his inhibitions. But he found it humiliating and did not allow it as a result and did not form a part of the gang. He admits that he was very insignificant, unobtrusive, and unnoticeable and made no mark at all. But people would feel that he was arrogant and rude. His moment of trouble came and he was to be chucked out of the institute, he did not find the support coming his way which should have as he had no connect with people and no one fought for him.