Mahesh Bhatt

heeda Rehman. In Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) he portrayed the melancholy of Meena Kumari's real-life how she drowned herself in alcohol to seek her husband's life. Both films were hits and masterpieces of Indian cinema.

Two decades later, contemporary film director when Mahesh Bhatt after a disastrous decade with umpteen flops Mahesh Bhatt went the Guru Dutt way and penned his career's first autobiographical film, Arth. The film was a hit and Bhatt got the formula for success he made several films inspired by his life like Janam, Kaash, Daddy, Aashiqui, Zakham, etc. His other hit films like Saaransh, Naam, Tamanna, etc were also partially derived from his life. Besides a Master of autobiographical film, Mahesh Bhatt proved his mastery as an All-Round filmmaker and made hit films on vast subjects like Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Sadak, Sir, Gumraah, Dushman Sangharsh and Raaz,  Jism and Murder, etc.

Tragically despite making such an excellent film Mahesh Bhatt was never awarded by the film industry or the government of India!!!


Mahesh Bhatt was the son of film director-producer Nanabhai Bhatt who made B-grade action thrillers. He lived in a relationship with Shirin Mohammad Ali, who was a little-known film actress. Thus Mahesh was born out of wedlock. Though his father had given a separate house to his wife he did not give them legal status in society. Hence as a child, Mahesh maintained distance from his father and loved his mother. To make his mother happy, Mahesh started working as a child. After school, he would do odd jobs like selling fresheners or working as a mechanic. Whatever he earned he gave to his mother. In an attempt to make his mother happy, Mahesh left his college mid-way and joined filmmaker Raj Khosla as an assistant. 

1970

Mahesh Bhatt struggled in the '70s as a ‘Flop Director' 

Under the assistance of ace film director Raj Khosla, who made super hit films like C.I.D. (1956);  Woh Kaun Thi? (1964); Do Raaste (1969); Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978); Do Dostana (1980) etc Mahesh Bhatt learned the art of film making. At the young age of 26 years, Mahesh Bhatt directed his career's film independent film Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain (1974). The film was a dud at the box office.

Mahesh Bhatt was jobless for three years and later gave 3 flops in a row!

A dejected Bhatt went jobless for three years. No producer trusted his skills. Film producer Johny Bakshi trusted him and offered a film. The film was Vishwasghaat (1997) a Hindi version of the Hollywood hit Godfather. The film had a good star cast like Sanjeev Kumar, Shabana Azmi, and Kabir Bedi but yet again the film failed. Soon, Bhatt gave three more flop films in a row. The films were Naya Daur (1978); Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979) and  Abhimanyu (1980). The film critics wrote –off Mahesh Bhatt as a jinx!!

1980

Film critics who had written off Mahesh Bhatt praised him for Arth

Devastated by repeated failure Mahesh Bhatt took a self-imposed exile from Bollywood and pondered on his flop films. After closely watching his films Bhatt realized the poor scripts as the key reason behind his flops. Thus he took to writing and in 2 years he penned the script of Arth - An autobiographical film about his married life marred by his extra-marital affair with Praveen Babi. The story was emotional and humane. It was not just Bhatt's real-life story but a story of the common man. The film was made on a shoestring budget but was a box-office hit. The film was not only a commercial success but was critically acclaimed by the same film critics who wrote him off as a Flop Director! The film fetched a National Award and a Filmfare award for its lead actress Shabana Azmi.

Mahesh Bhatt rocked the nation with his sensitive film Saaransh

After the huge success of Arth, Rajshri Production hired Mahesh Bhatt and approved his script Saaransh. Bhatt was brought up in the middle-class locality of Shivaji Park, Dadar. Hence he beautifully captured the life of an old couple shattered by the tragic loss of their only young son working abroad. The trauma and the anger of B.V. Pradhan (played brilliantly by debut actor Anupam Kher) a retired schoolmaster who wages a war against a local politician is captivating. The film won not only the Filmfare Best Actor award for Anupam Kher but also won Mahesh Bhatt the Filmfare Best Story Award.  After Saaransh, Mahesh Bhatt gave another brilliant role to Anupam Kher in his film Daddy (1989). This time Anupam Kher won a mention as Best Actor at the National Award.

With Naam Mahesh Bhatt became a ‘Star Film Director' of Bollywood

After the consecutive success of Arth and Saaransh, Bollywood's top A-grade film producer lined up to sign Mahesh Bhatt. Famous film star and producer Rajendra Kumar signed Bhatt for his film Naam, a lunch pad to revive his son Kumar Gaurav and his son-in-law Sanjay Dutt’s flop careers! The film was a huge hit. Though it revived the career of Sanjay Dutt unfortunately Kumar Gaurav failed to reap the dividends.

1990

Mahesh Bhatt ruled the decade as the Most Successful Director of the '90s

In 1991, Mahesh Bhatt created history giving 4 hits in a row. The first hit film was Aashiqui with a new star cast of Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal. His second hit Saathi was another non-star film with little-known actors Aditya Pancholi and debutant Mohsin Khan (Ex-Pakistani cricketer turned hero). Later he gave 2 more blockbusters' Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and Sadak with top stars Aamir Khan and Sanjay Dutt respectively. Mahesh Bhatt continued his success story with Sir (1993) and Gumraah (1993), Tamanna (1997), Dushman (1998) and Sangharsh (1999) and the hard-hitting Zakhm (1999) that won the National Award for Best Film on Social Subject. The film also won the Filmfare Best Story Award for Mahesh Bhatt

2000

Mahesh Bhatt's quits as director and focuses on writing

After the critical acclaim, the commercial failure of Mahesh Bhatt's 2 best films Tamanna (1997) and  Zakhm (1999) disheartened Bhatt and he decided to quit as a director. Nevertheless, he decided to keep the writer alive in him. But in his second innings as writer Bhatt decided to give the sob tale of his autobiographical accounts a backseat and focus on sex and crime – The commercial elements of success.

Thus he began rehashing Hollywood hit films into commercial Hindi cinema like Raaz (What Lies Beneath); Jism (Body Heat) and Murder (Unfaithful). The huge success of these three films became a franchise and he minted money-making Murder -2 and Murder 3. Similarly, he made Raaz - The Mystery Continues and Raaz 3. Besides Jism -2 and Jism Reloaded. 

A few other films that made good business were Kalyug(2005) and Gangster (2006). Mahesh Bhatt attempted to repeat his autobiographical formula with Woh Lamhe (2006), based on the life of actress Parveen Babi and Hamari Adhuri Kahani paying ode to his mother and father's untold love story. Alas, both films failed.

Mahesh Bhatt's brought a revolution in the TV industry

Mahesh Bhatt brought a new revolution in the TV industry by starting the trend of Tele-Films. He made two super hit autobiographical movies 1) Janam (1985) which depicted his bitter relationship with his father and his struggle as a filmmaker 2) Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993) which showed Mahesh Bhatt's illicit affair with film actress  Parveen Babi.

Besides, Tele-Films, Bhatt directed super hit TV serials like Swabhimaan, A Mouthful of Sky and Kabhie Kabhie. He also produced a Udaan, Naamkaran and Tu Aashiqui

Despite giving hit films, Mahesh Bhatt never won the ‘Best Director' Award

Surprisingly, Mahesh Bhatt won high acclaim for his sensitive subjects and handling emotional subjects with panache but he never won the Best Director Award ever. Filmfare nominated him 6 times -  Arth (1982), Saaransh (1984), Janam (1985) Aashiqui (1990), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) but alas never given the prestigious award.

2010

Mahesh Bhatt makes his ‘Acting' Debut

After making a mark as a brilliant film director, Mahesh Bhatt made his Acting Debut in the film The Dark Side Of Life: Mumbai City (2018). The film is directed by debut filmmaker Tariq Khan. In the film, Mahesh played Zulfikar Hussain, an old father staying in Mumbai, while his young son is living abroad. The agony of separation and the determination to face the harsh realities of life makes his character strong. Mahesh Bhatt gave his consent to play the role because of his good subject and his approach to supporting and encouraging new talents.