When Vishal Bhardwaj said he refused to treat kids like ‘idiots’ while making Shabana Azmi and Shweta Basu Prasad starrer ‘Makdee’ |

Vishal Bhardwaj, celebrated for his acclaimed films like Maqbool and Omkara, has been crafting movies for over two decades. Yet, long before these hits, he ventured into children’s cinema with a whimsical film featuring Shabana Azmi as a witch who transforms kids into farm animals, and Shweta Basu Prasad as the contrasting twin sisters, Chunni and Munni.
Released in 2002, Makdee stood out as a children’s film that respected its young audience, unlike many others. Vishal Bhardwaj approached it as a coming-of-age story shot like a thriller. The film follows Chunni, a girl who evolves from a troublemaker to a hero as she rescues her twin sister and the village from a witch.

The filmmaker initially sought support from the Children’s Film Society for Makdee, but the institute rejected it, feeling it didn’t fit the traditional mold of children’s cinema. Led by Sai Paranjpe, known for Katha and Chashme Baddoor, the society wanted Vishal to simplify the film for young audiences, a suggestion he refused. Vishal was adamant about not treating children as naïve, leading to a clash over the film’s style.

Shabana Azmi, who had collaborated with Sai, was shocked by the society’s demand for Vishal to return the funding. Despite these setbacks, Makdee ultimately benefited from a wider release than it might have received otherwise.

The film featured Shweta Basu Prasad, who was only 10 years old at the time. Reflecting on her experience in a recent interview with OTT Play, the now-grown actor shared that she felt equally respected on set as her character was in the script. She noted that, while she wasn’t old enough to grasp the technical details of filmmaking, she was always included in meetings and daily activities, and was pampered throughout.