Madhur Bhandarkar: Bipasha Basu deserved a National Award for Corporate

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar reflected on his 2006 film 'Corporate' as it marked its 20th anniversary. He expressed his belief that lead actress Bipasha Basu's performance was deserving of a National Award, her best work to date. Bhandarkar shared that the National Awards jury had a close call between 'Corporate' and his other film, 'Traffic Signal', debating for two to three days. Although 'Corporate' did not secure any National Awards, it garnered significant audience appreciation.

Despite initial concerns from exhibitors about its multiplex-friendly genre and competition from blockbuster releases, 'Corporate' found its audience. The film was initially given only one show daily at Mumbai's Gaiety-Galaxy multiplex but later moved to multiple shows due to popular demand. Bhandarkar recounted an overwhelming experience on the film's release day at Eros cinema, where audiences were deeply moved and praised his work. He also noted the film's enduring mystery regarding Kay Kay Menon's character's fate, a question he still receives today.