Age: 76
Birthplace: Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Mahesh Bhatt (born 20 September 1948) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter known for his works exclusively in Hindi cinema. A stand-out film from his earlier period is Saaransh (1984), screened at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival, and became India's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for that year. The 1986 film Naam was his first piece of commercial cinema. In 1987, he turned producer with the film Kabzaa under the banner, "Vishesh Films", with his brother Mukesh Bhatt.
Bhatt went on to become one of the most recognized directors of the Indian film industry in the next decade, giving both art-house works such as Daddy (1989) and Swayam (1991, and launching his daughter Pooja Bhatt as a movie actress, ) — as well as commercial romantic hits like Awaargi (1990), Aashiqui (1990) and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991), in which he cast Pooja with actor Aamir Khan. He next directed Sadak (1991) which remains his highest grossing either directed or produced under the banner, "Vishesh Films".
During 1990's Bhatt won critical acclaim for Sir (1993), along with other hits such as Gumraah (1993) and Criminal (1994). In 1994 he won the National Film Award - Special Jury Award for directing Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993). In 1999, he directed the autobiographical Zakhm, which has garnered the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. Bhatt has produced contemporary super hits such such as Jism, Murder and Woh Lamhe. He co-owns film producing company Vishesh Films with his brother Mukesh Bhatt.
Bhatt was born to Nanabhai Bhatt and Shirin Mohammad Ali. Bhatt's father was a Gujarati Brahmin and his mother was a Gujarati of Dawoodi Bohra background.
Among his siblings is the Indian film producer Mukesh Bhatt. Bhatt did his schooling from Don Bosco High School, Matunga. While still in school, Bhatt started summer jobs to earn money, while also making product advertisements. He was introduced to film director Raj Khosla through acquaintances. Bhatt thus started as assistant director to Khosla. Bhatt married his first wife Kiran (born Lorraine Bright) whom he had met while still a student. His romance with her was the inspiration for his film Aashiqui. Bhatt and Kiran had two children (Pooja Bhatt and Rahul Bhatt) but his marriage stumbled following the difficulties of his early career. Bhatt later fell in love with actress Soni Razdan and married her.
At the age 26 Bhatt made his debut as a director with the film Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain in 1974. His 1979 Lahu Ke Do Rang, starring Shabana Azmi and Vinod Khanna in lead roles, won two Filmfare Awards in 1980: Helen received her first Filmfare as Best Supporting Actress and Madhukar Shinde won it for Best Art Direction. The film did "above average" at the box office. He was noticed and received great critical acclaim with Arth (1982), when he turned to his personal life for inspiration but doubt persists as to whether it is an original film. Later, he made many more films taking insights from his personal life wherein he highlighted personal narratives ranging from out-of-wedlock birth, to extramarital affair, and created critically acclaimed works such as Janam (1985) and Saaransh (1984), an exploration of an old couple's anxieties in a universe governed by arbitrary violence, (1986).
In 1995 he moved to television, then a newly opening medium in India. He made two TV series in 1995: the English language A Mouthful of Sky written by Ashok Banker and the popular Hindi language serial Swabhimaan scripted by writer Shobha De. He directed another TV series, Kabhie Kabhie, in 1997 which was written by Anurag Kashyap, Vinta Nanda and Kamlesh Kunti Singh. He is known to have copied many Hollywood movies into mainstream Hindi movies without even acknowledging it. For example, Fugitive was remade in Hindi as Criminal. He has many times copied portion of Hollywood movie scene and enacts into his films. Following this, he directed dramas like Dastak (1996), the debut film of Miss Universe 1994-turned-actress Sushmita Sen, and Tamanna (1997), and tried his hand at comedy with Duplicate in 1998. Zakhm (1998) based on the Mumbai riots of 1993.
His last film as director was Kartoos (1999). Thereafter, Bhatt retired a director and took to screenwriting, churning out stories and screenplays for over twenty films, many of which were box-office successes, like Dushman, Raaz, Murder (2004), Gangster (2006), Woh Lamhe (2006), based on the life of actress Parveen Babi, along with many more. His banner vishesh films still continues operating today as one of Indian Cinemas leading production banners. Bhatt entered into the world of theatre with his protege Imran Zahid as of now he has produced three plays.The Last Salute, based on Muntadhar al-Zaidi's book of the same title, a journalist investigating atrocities Trial of Errors, that opened on 29 March 2013 in Delhi. stage adaptation of Bhatt of his movie, Arth (film)., Bhatt also produced The Last Salute, a play directed by Arvind Gaur, based on Muntadhar al-Zaidi's book, starring Imran Zahid.
Bhatt is co-owner of film production house, Vishesh Films, with Mukesh Bhatt. He is a member of the advisory board of U.S. nonprofit TeachAIDS.
Bhatt believes the Congress party is committed to secularism. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he campaigned in a Karvan-e-Bedari (caravan of awareness) asking people to vote for Congress and defeat BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, as he believes that Mr. Modi is communal. Bhatt also criticizes communal record of Congress Party, for its role in Rajiv Gandhi Sponsored 1984 Sikh genocide. He is planning to make a film, which will address the 1984 Sikh genocide that took place in Delhi.
Bhatt's critics have accused him of spreading divisive communal polarisation.
Bhatt fell in love with Lorraine Bright and got married when he was 20 years old. Bright changed her name to Kiran Bhatt. The couple have two children, a daughter Pooja Bhatt, a former actress, now a producer, and a son Rahul Bhatt, an aspiring actor. The marriage ended when Bhatt had an affair with the glamorous actress of the 1970s, Parveen Babi. The affair did not last long. Bhatt later married Soni Razdan in 1986. The couple have two daughters, Shaheen Bhatt and Alia Bhatt. Emraan Hashmi is his nephew.
In the 1970s, he became a follower of Osho, and later found spiritual companionship and guidance with philosopher, U.G. Krishnamurti. Bhatt calls Krishnamurti his lifeline and says "Take him away, and I am empty". Bhatt in 1992 wrote Krishnamurti's biography titled U.G. Krishnamurti, A Life. Apart from this he has edited several books based on conversations with U.G. Krishnamurti. Bhatt's latest book A Taste of Life: The Last Days of U.G. Krishnamurti was published in June 2009.
Year | Film | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain | Yes | |||
1977 | Vishwasghaat | Yes | |||
1978 | Naya Daur | Yes | |||
1979 | Lahu Ke Do Rang | Yes | Won Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
Filmfare Best Art Direction |
||
1980 | Abhimanyu | Yes | |||
1982 | Arth | Yes | Yes | Won Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue
Won National Film Award for Best Actress-Shabana Azmi |
|
1984 | Saaransh | Yes | Yes | Won Filmfare Award for Best Story
Nominated for India's official entry - 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film |
|
1985 | Janam | Yes | Yes | ||
1986 | Aashiana | Yes | |||
1986 | Naam | Yes | |||
1987 | Aaj | Yes | |||
1987 | Kaash | Yes | Yes | ||
1988 | Thikaana | Yes | |||
1988 | Siyaasat | Yes | |||
1988 | Kabzaa | Yes | |||
1989 | Daddy | Yes | Won 2 Filmfare Awards
National Film Award - Special Jury Award |
||
1990 | Awaargi | Yes | |||
1990 | Jurm | Yes | |||
1990 | Aashiqui | Yes | Won 4 Filmfare Awards | ||
1991 | Swayam | Yes | |||
1991 | Saathi | Yes | |||
1991 | Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin | Yes | |||
1991 | Sadak | Yes | Won Filmfare Award for Best Villain
5th highest grossing Hindi movie of the 90's decade |
||
1992 | Saatwan Aasmaan | Yes | |||
1992 | Junoon | Yes | |||
1992 | Maarg | Yes | Originally titled Prem Dharam when launched in 1988 but released as Maarg straight to video | ||
1993 | Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee | Yes | TV movie (Zee TV) | ||
1993 | Gunaah | Yes | |||
1993 | Sir | Yes | |||
1993 | Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke | Yes | Won 5 Filmfare Awards
National Film Award - Special Jury Award |
||
1993 | Gumrah | Yes | |||
1993 | Tadipaar | Yes | |||
1994 | The Gentleman | Yes | Yes | ||
1994 | Naaraaz | Yes | |||
1995 | Milan | Yes | |||
1995 | Naajayaz | Yes | Nominated Filmfare Award for Best Actor | ||
1995 | Criminal | Yes | A Telugu - Hindi bilingual film | ||
1996 | Papa Kehte Hai | Yes | Yes | ||
1996 | Chaahat | Yes | |||
1996 | Dastak | Yes | |||
1997 | Tamanna | Yes | Yes | ||
1998 | Duplicate | Yes | |||
1998 | Angaaray | Yes | |||
1998 | Dushman | Yes | |||
1999 | Zakhm | Yes | Yes | Won Filmfare Best Story Award
National Film Award for Best Actor and Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration |
|
1999 | Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan | Yes | Originally titled Mr. Aashiq, audio released under that name as well | ||
1999 | Kartoos | Yes | |||
1999 | Sangharsh | Yes | |||
2001 | Kasoor | Yes | |||
2001 | Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar | Yes | |||
2002 | Raaz | Yes | Yes | ||
2002 | Gunaah | Yes | |||
2003 | Saaya | Yes | |||
2003 | Footpath | Yes | Yes | ||
2003 | Jism | Yes | |||
2003 | Inteha | Yes | |||
2004 | Murder | Yes | |||
2005 | Rog | Yes | |||
2005 | Zeher | Yes | |||
2005 | Nazar | Yes | |||
2005 | Kalyug | Yes | |||
2006 | Gangster | Yes | Yes | Won Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut | |
2006 | Woh Lamhe | Yes | Yes | ||
2009 | Raaz - The Mystery Continues | Yes | |||
2009 | Tum Mile | Yes | |||
2011 | Murder 2 | Yes | Yes | ||
2012 | Jism 2 | Yes | Yes | ||
2012 | Raaz 3D | Yes | |||
2013 | Murder 3 | Yes | Yes | ||
2015 | Mr. X | Yes | |||
2015 | Hamari Adhuri Kahani | Yes | Yes | ||
2016 | Love Games | Yes | |||
2016 | Raaz Reboot | Yes |