Subhash Ghai

Subhash Ghai (born 24 January 1945) is an Indian film director, producer, actor, lyricist, music director and screenwriter, primarily known for his work in Hindi cinema. He was one of the most prominent Hindi filmmakers in the 1980s and 1990s. His notable films include '' Kalicharan'' (1976), '' Vishwanath'' (1978), '' Karz'' (1980), ''Hero'' (1983), '' Vidhaata'' (1982), '' Meri Jung'' (1985), ''Karma'' (1986), '' Ram Lakhan'' (1989), '' Saudagar'' (1991), '' Khalnayak'' (1993), '' Pardes'' (1997), and '' Taal'' (1999).

In 1982, Ghai founded Mukta Arts, which became a public company in 2000, with Ghai serving as its executive chairman. In 2006, he received the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues for producing ''Iqbal'', a film addressing social issues. That same year, he established Whistling Woods International, a film and media institution in Mumbai. In 2015, Ghai was honoured with the IIFA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema. His films are noted for their iconic characters, grand sets, dramatic climaxes, and themes of divine justice and duty.

Early life

Born in Nagpur, India, Subhash Ghai's father was a dentist in Delhi. Ghai's father had moved to Delhi from Punjab following the 1947 partition. Ghai graduated in commerce from Rohtak, Haryana, and then went to pursue graduation in Cinema from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

Career

In an interview with Rajya Sabha TV, Ghai recounted that after graduated from FTII, he came to Bombay, but was not allowed to enter any studio as he was unknown. He then read self help books like Dale Carnegie's How to Win friends and influence people, and used techniques given in it to help him try and enter the film industry. At the same time, he learnt of and entered a United Producers Filmfare talent contest. Of the 5,000 participants, three people were selected in it, he, Rajesh Khanna and Dheeraj Kumar. While Khanna received a role soon after, Ghai received a role a year later.

Ghai started his career in Hindi cinema as an actor with small roles in films including ''Taqdeer'' (1967) and '' Aradhana'' (1969). He was the male lead in the 1970s ''Umang'' and ''Gumraah''. His directorial debut was the action thriller '' Kalicharan'' (1976) which he obtained through a recommendation by Shatrughan Sinha.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he formed a successful collaboration with Dilip Kumar whom he directed in '' Vidhaata'' (1982), ''Karma'' (1986) and '' Saudagar'' (1991), the latter for which he won his first and only Filmfare Award for Best Director. He introduced Jackie Shroff as a leading actor in the action romance ''Hero'' (1983) and helped establish Anil Kapoor's rising career with the legal drama '' Meri Jung'' (1985). He went on to frequently work with Shroff and Kapoor, casting them together in the films ''Karma'' (1986), '' Ram Lakhan'' (1989) and '' Trimurti'' (1995), the latter which he had produced and it was directed by Mukul S. Anand. His action crime film '' Khalnayak'' starring Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit and Shroff featured the hit songs "Nayak Nahin Khalnayak Hu Main" and the controversial " Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai".

In 1997, he directed the musical romance '' Pardes'' which starred Shahrukh Khan and newcomers Mahima Chaudhry and Apoorva Agnihotri. In 1999, he directed the musical romantic drama '' Taal'' which starred Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna and Anil Kapoor. Both ''Pardes'' and ''Taal'' were released internationally. His following films were '' Yaadein'' (2001) and '' Kisna'' (2005). He then took a break from directing and turned producer with films including '' Aitraaz'' (2004), '' Iqbal'' (2005), '' 36 China Town'' (2006) and '' Apna Sapna Money Money'' (2006). In 2006, he set up his own film institute Whistling Woods International in Mumbai. The institute trains students in filmmaking: production, direction, cinematography, acting, animation. Ghai has done brief cameos in his directorial ventures.

After a three-year hiatus from directing, he returned in 2008 with '' Black & White'' released on 7 March 2008 and, later '' Yuvvraaj'' released in November 2008 with collaboration Yash Singhaniya (award-winning journalist and writer). which did not perform well at the box office. A. R. Rahman stated in an interview that Ghai had asked him to use the words " Jai Ho" in a song. Although intended for ''Yuvraaj'', the song resulted in Jai Ho!, featured in '' Slumdog Millionaire'' (2008) and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards.

At the Cannes International Film Festival in May 2018, Ghai announced that he is co-producing a biopic on Osho Rajneesh along with an Italian production house. The movie would be directed by Lakshen Sucameli.

, he has written and directed a total of 16 movies.

Advisor

Currently, he is also on the Board of Advisors of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.).

Personal life

In 1970, following a four-year-long courtship, Ghai married Rehana Farooqui, whom he met while he was in FTII in Pune. She is better known as Mukta Ghai. They live in Mumbai along with their daughters, Meghna Ghai Puri and Muskaan Ghai. Meghna is the President of Whistling Woods International Institute.

Controversies

In 2018, Subhash Ghai was accused of sexual assault by an anonymous woman. The victim, who used to be an assistant of Subash Ghai alleged that he raped her at Fariyas hotel, Lonavala after spiking her drinks with drugs. No Criminal case or FIR was registered in this matter while Ghai denied it strongly, calling it false.

Awards

Filmography

References

External links

Mukta Arts, Official website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghai, Subhash
Film directors from Mumbai
Film producers from Mumbai
Indian male screenwriters
Hindi-language film directors
Artists from Nagpur
Filmfare Awards winners
Film and Television Institute of India alumni
1945 births
Living people
20th-century Indian screenwriters
21st-century Indian screenwriters
Producers who won the Best Film on Other Social Issues National Film Award
Punjabi Hindus