Mahesh Bhatt | |
|---|---|
 Bhatt in 2011 | |
| Born | 20 September 1948 |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse(s) |
Lorraine Bright aka Kiran Bhatt
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 4, including Pooja Bhatt, Rahul Bhatt and Alia Bhatt |
| Father | Nanabhai Bhatt |
| Family | Bhatt family |
| Awards | Full list |
Mahesh Bhatt (born 20 September 1948) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter known for his works in Hindi cinema. He has received a number of accolades, including four National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. A notable film from his earlier period is Saaransh (1984), screened at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. It became India's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for that year.[1] The 1986 film Naam was his first piece of commercial cinema.[2] In 1987, he turned producer with the film Kabzaa under the banner, "Vishesh Films", with his brother Mukesh Bhatt.
Mahesh 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), as well as commercial romantic hits, such as Aashiqui (1990) and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991), in which he cast Pooja Bhatt with actor Aamir Khan. He next directed Sadak (1991) which was a hit and it remains his highest grossing either directed or produced by Vishesh Films.[3]
During the 1990s Mahesh 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 1996, he directed Tamanna, which won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues. In 1999, he directed the autobiographical Zakhm, which has garnered the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. Thereafter, Bhatt and his brother joined hands to establish Vishesh Films and then provided stories and screenplays for over twenty films, many of which were box-office successes. Bhatt has produced multiple contemporary films such as Raaz (2002), Jism (2003), Murder (2004), Gangster (2006), Woh Lamhe (2006), Jannat (2008), Murder 2 (2011), and Aashiqui 2 (2013).[4] Owing to differences between the brothers, Mukesh took over Vishesh Films and, in May 2021, it was publicly announced that Mahesh was no longer associated with the firm.[5]
- ^ "14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Sanjay Dutt and Alia Bhatt are NOT coming together for Naam sequel, confirms Mahesh Bhatt". PINKVILLA. 31 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ "Revisiting Mahesh Bhatt's Sadak: Sadashiv Amrapurkar's 'Maharani' steals the spotlight". The Indian Express. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ Sawhney, Anubha (18 January 2003). "The Saraansh of Mahesh Bhatt's life". Times Of India. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Emraan Hashmi on Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt's professional split: 'All good things come to an end'". The Indian Express. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.