Birthday Special: Mahesh Bhatt and his blockbuster journey

As the filmmaker turns 73 today, let's take a look at what makes his films work

Mahesh Bhatt as a director is a fearless voice whose directorial dramas were moving portraits of realities of life. Take ‘Arth’, in which a married man is attracted by the charms of another woman that shatters the wife. Extramarital relationships have been explored time and again but ‘Arth’ engulfs you in its darkness like few others do.

Equally hard-hitting is ‘Saaransh’ that marked the debut of a 29-year old Anupam Kher playing an aging man who has to come to terms with the death of his only son. Receding hairline in real morphed into a compelling character and a confident debut. Bone-chilling stories continued with titles like ‘Naam’, ‘Sadak’, and ‘Zakhm’ after which it was time for him to hang his boots as a director.

The Millennium saw a gargantuan shift in style and stories. Physical intimacy took over emotions and sentiments. With blockbusters like ‘Raaz’, ‘Jism’, and ‘Murder’, the Bhatt brothers, under their banner of Vishesh Films, gave actors overnight stardom. Bhatt has always managed to create historic music for his films in both capacities - as a director and a writer. 

Ask him what made him change the genres and he once said it was the desires of the people to consume sex and erotica. His so-called celebrated films were viewed by a handful of people whereas the ones looked at with disdain gave him meteoric viewership.

Also Read: Shaheen wishes Mahesh Bhatt on his birthday with a heartfelt post

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