"I've studied in that school. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali school of filmmaking. I've learnt whatever I have to learn about filmmaking from him. So it is only natural that I hold his influence in my creativity," said Puri.
The debutant director goes a step further to reveal that the mentor-pupil relationship in "Hawaizaada" is modelled on his own stormy relationship with Bhansali.
"The relationship between Mithun da (Mithun Chakraborty) and Ayushmann (Khurrana) is modelled on my own rapport with Sanjay sir. We'd have heated arguments and I'd storm off threatening to never return.
"There is a sequence where Ayushmann fights and returns to Mithunda after a few hours and Mithunda smirks, 'You are back in just two hours? I thought you'd be back after two days.' That's exactly what Sanjay sir said to me."
Puri is very keen to show his film to his mentor.
"Sanjay sir is shooting for 'Bajirao Mastani', but he has promised to see my film," he said.
