By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

On the occasion of his birthday, all the junior artistes on the sets of 'Saawariya' gave filmmaker Sanajay Leela Bhansali a surprise gift. The director says it was his life's most touching experience.

Bhansali turned 42 on Feb 24.

'At 6 p.m., when we had to pack up, all my junior artistes suddenly came to me in a large group, presented me a lovely Ganpati statute and a bouquet and burst into the 'Happy Birthday' song,' Bhansali told IANS.

'Suddenly, my 14 years as a filmmaker seemed worthwhile. To have earned the goodwill of these people, to have them feel so sincerely happy on my birthday, what more could I ask for?'

Bhansali, whose ideal birthday gift is a day spent with his mother and sister and his two nieces, has a lot to look forward to this year.

'I've my 'Saawariya' coming up for release, and my sister Bela is starting her own film, which I'm very excited about. Forty-two seems like a ripe old age. But I don't feel old. I just feel there's so much more I want to do.

'I've promised a dear friend that I'll make 25 films during my lifetime. I've 21 more to go. Movies are my life. But I also want to experience a life beyond movies.'

In summer 2008, Sanjay leaves for Paris to direct an opera.

'I'm seeing that as a part of a continuous flow in my creativity. People who follow my films carefully see 'Black' and 'Devdas' as operatic in mood and texture. I want to bring elements from my own creative element into the opera.'