"My X factor is my hard work"-Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Sanjay Leela Bhansali made his debut on television with the first season of Sony TV's Jhalak Dikhla Jaa: Dancing with the Stars.

After four years, the director is back on small screen on the same channel with X-Factor India. We will see him joining hands with Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal to judge the show.

While making his come back on Television, Sanjay shared his experiences being a part of reality shows and also opened up his ingredients which he wants to see in a perfect winner of X Factor.

So guys who ever wants to win over the heart of Sanjay, here is the key to success...

How far is the responsibility of being a judge for X Factor?
I think X factor is a big dairy of reality show as per the kind of scale, size and platform it is spoken and its really going to be on a very large scale. Audience will see how people come with their beautiful dreams in the show. And being on the judging panel, it would be a great pleasure to see all those beautiful dreams getting fulfilled. Therefore it's going to be a big responsibility for us to judge the contestants because, they have some dreams to fulfill, so we can't do any mistake in judging them. Hope the channel and judges succeed in fulfilling those dreams.

Why did you stay away from Television after Jhalak?
I think Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa was the most wonderful experience of my life on television and I thought I can't get anything better than Jhalak again. But now, before I start my next venture, I had some time in my hands. So I thought why not do another reality show which is related to Singing. As I had done a dancing reality show earlier, I thought why not a singing reality this time. Therefore I gave a nod to the show and it would be contrast to do such show.

What according to you is X Factor?
I actually don't know how to define X Factor. It's a term which will appeal the audience like when Lata Mangeshkar sings, the whole world gets mesmerized with her voice. So that is something I would say is X Factor.  The talent, the confidence, the willingness to do something different, passion, to fight failure and to explore in life is something what I will call as the X factor. We want not just a singer, but a performer from this show.

What according to you is your X factor?
What would I say what my X Factor is (laughs). I think my X Factor is hard my work; I basically work like a dog and so I think that's my X Factor. I know I have something in me that has made me what I am today, but what is it? I really don't know. If I have something in me, my audience will get to know. Personally I think I direct good.

What are the key factors that you would love to see in a contestant?
As the show is a singing reality show, I think Singing is something that has to be in the contestant in the first place. And the second one I would say is the way to express. I can very well read one's eyes and hence I would see how far the expressions are true. The contestant must be so powerful, that even a person seated at the end of the row place should be able to see the passion in the eyes. I would give a lovely example of Mickeal Jackson.

How will you be as a judge? Will you be very strict?
Hmm. At the initial stage of the auditions, I will be a little lenient with the contestant. Because the auditions will be in front of around 3000 people, and hence I understand the fear and shiver and will judge a bit softly. But once they are in front of us in the studio, I won't be lenient and will be myself and will judge them accordingly. I will be strict on them when it comes to the grooming, mentoring, and being perfect. Because, I think those few minutes of their life on the stage would change them entirely. So judging the contestant would not be taken lightly by me.

Would your heart rule your mind while judging?
Yes, definitely because I always do things with my heart. Be it a movie, a song or anything in life. I have always done it with heart and never with my mind. I have never been manipulative nor calculative.

Will the winner get a chance to work with you in future?
Yes, why not? If the person has the talent in him or her to achieve heights of success, will never stay idle at home. So if the person is good, then I would take him. Even in Guraazish I have given chance to many new faces and reality stars.

Personally what do you love to see and listen?
I have seen talents like Micheal Jackson performing to Lata Bai's tunes on the stage. Each and everyone has their own genre, but I personally love to hear Indian classical music.

Do you think the channel will help the contestant to explore more in future once the show is off?
I think if you have the talent, no one can stop you from heading further, come what may. Here the contestant is getting a ready-made platform, a channel and exposure, and they just have to explore themselves. Sometimes it happens that the contestant takes the fame for granted and hence, I think they do not make their name in future. One has to put their efforts in making themselves more perfect to move ahead, even after the show goes off.

What do you want to say about Madhuri Dixit judging a show?
I just love Madhuri and seeing her on the show made me upset. Because, I still remember the days when I used to wait outside her house to ask her for Khamoshi. But that didn't happen and after that I tried her for Hum Dil... But again it didn't happen. Then for Devdas, I made up my mind and waited for four years as I wanted to see her dancing as Chandramukhi. And the movie happened after the long wait of 4 years. Whereas Jhalak the contestant got to see her in every two minutes and I was really upset with this. It was unfair to me. She is a great artiste and she has the X Factor."

Would you ever try to be a singer?
No, never. If ever I take a mike and sing, that would me my last day in the industry as the whole industry would throw me out if I do so.

Reporter and Author: Tejashree Bhopatkar