Madhur Bhandarkar revisits 'Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji' nostalgia after airport reunion with Pritam
Synopsis
A casual airport run-in between director Madhur Bhandarkar and composer Pritam turned into a public nostalgia trip for their 2011 romantic comedy Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji — a film whose soundtrack still resonates. The moment arrives as Bhandarkar gears up for The Wives, his sharpest Bollywood insider story yet.
Key Takeaways
Madhur Bhandarkar and composer Pritam crossed paths at Mumbai airport , sparking a nostalgic social media post.
Bhandarkar called Pritam's score for Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (2011) 'timeless music.' The film starred Ajay Devgn , Emraan Hashmi , and Omi Vaidya in lead roles.
Bhandarkar is a Padma Shri awardee known for socially conscious, realistic cinema.
His next film, The Wives , is produced by Pranav Jain of P J Motion Pictures — their second collaboration after India Lockdown .
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar was swept by nostalgia after a chance encounter with music composer Pritam at Mumbai airport, prompting him to revisit fond memories of their 2011 romantic comedy Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji. Bhandarkar shared a photograph of the two seated at an airport cafe, calling Pritam's score for the film a 'timeless' creation.
The Airport Moment
Bhandarkar posted the candid cafe snapshot on social media, writing: 'Look who I ran into at #Mumbaiairport! Meeting @ipritamofficial brought back so many memories of the timeless music he created for the film #DilTohBacchaHaiJi. Pure nostalgia.' The post quickly drew warmth from fans of the film, many of whom hold the soundtrack in particular affection.
About Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji
Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, released in 2011, was co-written and directed by Bhandarkar. The romantic comedy featured Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, and Omi Vaidya in the lead roles, with Shazahn Padamsee, Shruti Haasan, Rituparna Sengupta, Tisca Chopra, and Shraddha Das in supporting parts. The film follows three men — Naren, Abhay, and Milind — sharing a house in Mumbai while navigating complicated love lives, each falling for a different woman before swearing off romance altogether. Pritam's music was widely regarded as central to the film's enduring appeal.
Bhandarkar's Signature Style
A Padma Shri awardee, Bhandarkar built his reputation on unflinching, socially aware cinema — films that strip away glamorous exteriors to expose uncomfortable realities. He was widely regarded as a standard-bearer of realistic Bollywood storytelling before Anurag Kashyap emerged as the genre's next defining voice. Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji represented a lighter, more personal departure from that mould, and the airport reunion suggests it remains a cherished chapter for the director.
What's Next: The Wives
Bhandarkar's upcoming film The Wives sees him return to the territory he knows best — the underbelly of Bollywood itself. The film stars Sonali Kulkarni, Mouni Roy, Regina Cassandra, Rahul Bhatt, Saurabh Sachdeva, Arjan Bajwa, and Freddy Daruvala. It marks his second collaboration with producer Pranav Jain of P J Motion Pictures, following India Lockdown, which earned acclaim through its straight-to-OTT release. With The Wives, Bhandarkar aims to expose the struggles, secrets, and social dynamics of an industry he has observed for decades.
Point of View
But it points to something larger: Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji occupies an oddly warm corner of Bhandarkar's filmography — a tonal outlier from the man who made Page 3 and Fashion. That the director publicly flags nostalgia for it, rather than his grittier work, suggests even India's foremost realist has a soft spot for the films where he let the guard down. With The Wives now in the pipeline, the question is whether he can blend that warmth with his trademark unflinching gaze at Bollywood's inner workings — or whether the industry will prove too close a subject for full candour.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Madhur Bhandarkar post about Pritam on social media?
Bhandarkar shared a photo after a chance meeting with composer Pritam at Mumbai airport, saying the encounter brought back memories of the 'timeless music' Pritam created for their 2011 film Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji.
What is Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji about?
Released in 2011, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji is a romantic comedy co-written and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. It follows three men — Naren, Abhay, and Milind — sharing a house in Mumbai while navigating complicated love lives, each falling for a different woman before swearing off romance.
Who starred in Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji?
The film featured Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, and Omi Vaidya in the lead roles, with Shazahn Padamsee, Shruti Haasan, Rituparna Sengupta, Tisca Chopra, and Shraddha Das in supporting parts.
What is Madhur Bhandarkar's next film?
Bhandarkar's upcoming film is The Wives, starring Sonali Kulkarni, Mouni Roy, Regina Cassandra, Rahul Bhatt, Saurabh Sachdeva, Arjan Bajwa, and Freddy Daruvala. It is produced by Pranav Jain of P J Motion Pictures, the duo's second collaboration after India Lockdown.
Who is Madhur Bhandarkar?
Madhur Bhandarkar is a Padma Shri-awarded Bollywood filmmaker known for socially conscious, realistic cinema. His notable works include Page 3, Fashion, and Chandni Bar, and he was widely regarded as a defining voice of gritty mainstream storytelling in Indian cinema.
