Mahesh Bhatt

Mahesh Bhatt (pronounced [məˈɦeːʃ ˈbʱəʈ] ; born 20 September 1948) is a retired Indian film director, producer and screenwriter known for his works in Hindi cinema. Known for his unconventional narratives and exploration of bold themes, he was one of the most prominent filmmakers in 80s and 90s Hindi cinema. He has received a number of accolades, including five National Film Award and four 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. 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 younger brother Mukesh Bhatt. In 2013, he was inducted into the Bollywood Walk of Fame, at Bandra Bandstand, where his hand print was preserved.

The son of director Nanabhai Bhatt, he 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.