Would like to produce films only I direct: Vishal Bhardwaj

Mumbai, Dec 24: Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has said he would produce only those films which he could direct and not those of others.

"I want to stop producing films because I want to conserve that energy for myself as director. I am not interested in producing films. I did it for Abhishek Chaubey (director of 'Dedh Ishqiya') as he is like my brother. I would produce only those films that I direct," Vishal said.

He made his debut as filmmaker with children's film 'Makdee' (2002) which won critical acclaim. He then made 'Maqbool' (2003), 'Omkara' (2006), and others. Among the films which he did not direct but produced were 'No Smoking' (2007), 'Ishqiya' (2010), 'Ek Thi Daayan' (2013), and 'Dedh Ishqiya' (2014) among others.

"I am producing a film for Meghna Gulzar as she is like my sister... I am producing it with my heart and soul. But as far as the profession and the business associated with it is concerned, I don't want to do it," he said.

On director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for making emotional dramas, exploring the genre of potboilers by producing them, Vishal said he did only those movies in which he believed in. "I won't own films that I don't believe in, be it producing or directing. I cannot own something which I cannot believe. I don't like it personally. I think Sanjay would have loved 'Rowdy Rathore' that is why he would have produced the film," he said.

Before donning the mantle of filmmaker, Vishal was a music composer. He has scored music for several films such as 'Maachis', 'Satya', 'Chachi 420', 'Godmother', 'Maqbool', 'Omkara', 'Kaminey', 'Ishqiya', '7 Khoon Maaf' among others.

However, it seems Vishal has restricted himself to lending music only to his films. "No one takes me as a music composer. Sanjay Leela Bhansali had come to me but due to time constraint we couldn't do it (project). People don't come to me for music that is why I had to direct a film," Vishal said.