Filmmakers can't change society: Vishal BhardwajPanaji, Nov 22 (AZINS) Director Vishal Bhardwaj says filmmakers express their experience on the big screen, but they can't transform society.

The "Haider" director believes that movies are mirror of society, but filmmakers are not social workers.

"We are storytellers. Whatever happens in life, filmmakers reflect that. We express what we experience. Films can be brought to a level of discussion, but we can't change society because it is made up of different individuals," he said here Saturday during a session on "Cinema as a tool for social change" at the ongoing Film Bazaar.

"Movies are supposed to start agreement or disagreement. That's the beauty of democracy we live in," he added.

But films should not lead to riots in a country.

"Why are we so intolerant? It's because society is not educated. Proper education should be given and they should understand that they should not create riots when a film releases," he said.

According to film writer Jaideep Sahni, who was also one of the panelists, change in society is a "thing of decades and centuries".

But the writer of movies like "Chak De! India" and "Khosla Ka Ghosla" believes it is important to share your story with the masses.

"Sometimes my parents may not agree with me, but we are all part of the same family so we find a way. I will say what I want to because it needs to come out. The same goes for society. If something is bothering you, the way you talk to your family, the same way you talk to the society through movies," he said.

He also highlighted that it is easy to make "B or C grade movies", but if an Indian filmmaker wants to show something related to politics, the movie faces problems.

"You can stuff in nudity or action in a film, but if you want to make a film on something like caste issue, someone will clamp down on you," said Sahni.

Film Bazaar, held alongside the annual International Film Festival of India, has packed an array of events for writers, producers, directors and more talents from across the world.

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, who considers Gulzar as his mentor, is now working with the noted lyricist, poet and writer's daughter Meghna Gulzar.

Fresh from the success of award-winning "Haider", Bhardwaj is now busy with a film directed by Meghna.

"I've written a film for Meghna Gulzar. It is being shot right now. I am also doing the music for it," he told reporters here after a session on "Shakespeare 2016 On Screen: Film London launch UK/India Feature Film Fund" at the ongoing Film Bazaar that bridges gap between the international and South Asian film fraternity.

Bhardwaj, who is greatly inspired by William Shakespeare's tragedies like "Macbeth" and "Othello", said that the poet's "work is timeless".

"That's why you can adapt in any language or country. They are basic human stories and deal with emotional conflicts. I love to contemporise and adapt to my culture. That's why I've been doing them," he said.

The session was also attended by Gulzar, who had made 1982 cult comedy "Angoor" based on one of Shakespeare's plays - "The Comedy of Errors".

"He (Gulzar) says that my films are original and not adaptation and that I am just exploiting Shakespeare's name. But I think he gives me compliment in a twisted way," said Bhardwaj, who can live his whole life working on Shakespeare's plays.

Without revealing any names, he said that he is planning to turn three of Shakespeare's comedy plays into films.

"I want to do 'King Lear'. I have a plot for it. I would also like to do three comedies. I will work on them passionately," he said.

Among actors, he says he will continue working with his "Haider" star Shahid Kapoor.

"I will keep working with him. He is a good friend and an actor," said Bhardwaj.