Mahesh Bhatt: A Life Less Ordinary

Some of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s best films are based on his own tumultuous life writes Ranjib Mazumder

In the world of Hindi cinema where everyone wishes to be politically correct, Mahesh Bhatt stands as a glaring exception. The showbiz people prefer to keep their personal affairs forcibly stuffed in the closet, but Bhatt prefers to wring those memories to make creative brushstrokes on celluloid.

Hamari Adhuri Kahani featuring Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan and Rajkummar Rao is the latest film that takes inspiration from the writer-director’s tumultuous life.

The story of Hamari Adhuri Kahani is said to be based on the love story of Bhatt’s parents, Nanabhai Bhatt, Shirin Mohammad Ali and his stepmother. While growing up, he always saw his stepmother as a villain, the chief source of his mother’s misery. It’s only later when he went closer to the narrative; his perspective went through a sea change.

A photo posted by Alia (@aliaabhatt) on Sep 20, 2014 at 8:05am PDT

In a recent interview, he said, “My stepmother was 94 when my father died 10 years ago and she said to me, ‘Your father’s body will not come to my home’, which was his legal official residence because he had willed, that post his death, his body should be taken to the house where my mother lived. My mother and my father’s relationship was not a legitimate one in his lifetime. That moment of human grandeur of the magnificent heart is something that stayed with me.” Thus Hamari Adhuri Kahani was born.

Let’s look at his personal expeditions on silver screen.

Arth (1982)

When Bhatt grew up, he found himself drawn into an extramarital affair with Parveen Babi who was at the peak of her career. She was battling loneliness, and he was a married man. Playing the knight in shining armour, Bhatt decided to live in with her. Once the rosy days were over, he discovered an inconvenient truth. She was suffering from schizophrenia. The affair lasted for about two-and-a-half years. After making four flop films, Bhatt shot to fame when he made Arth, a semi-autobiographical look at his relationship with Babi. Featuring Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Smita Patil, this realistic drama remains the raison d’etre of his cinematic career.

Janam (1985)

Bhatt is definitely a man of countless volatile and tender experiences. Kumar Gaurav played the illegitimate son of a filmmaker whose only ambition was to become a filmmaker, without being defined by the existing references of his personal world, mirroring Bhatt’s personal progress. This coming-of-age saga was telecast on Doordarshan in 1985 and the news was delayed for 14 minutes till the movie was over, an unprecedented event.

Daddy (1989)

One of his underrated works, Daddy takes its story again from Bhatt’s own life, his stint with alcoholism and how he battled to come out of its grip. Pooja Bhatt who was closer to her father than her other siblings was cast as the main character and it became her debut film. Anupam Kher who played the father received wide critical attention for his performance.

Aashiqui (1990)

During his school days, Bhatt met Lorraine Bright, who studied at the Bombay Scottish orphanage and they fell in love.

“I would jump across the wall to meet her but, when we got caught, she had to leave the orphanage. I got her enrolled at the YWCA so that she could become a typist and fend for herself. All along, I kept working. I made ads for Dalda and Lifebuoy,” he said in an interview.

Later, Loren changed her name to Kiran and Bhatt married her at the age of 20. This love story is the inspiration behind Aashiqui, the biggest musical success of Bhatt’s career.

Zakhm (1999)

By the end of ‘90s, Bhatt’s wasn’t consistent with his success. And again, he plucked out memories of his childhood to write and direct Zakhm. His mother Shirin’s courageous, exceptional life and his bond with her was the source of the story. Featuring Ajay Devgn, Pooja Bhatt and Kunal Khemu as the boy wonder, the film ran into censor trouble for the ‘provocative’ content. But ultimately, it won National awards and relaunched Devgan’s career as a serious actor.

Woh Lamhe (2006)

When Babi was diagnosed with schizophrenia, filmmakers saw their films in trouble. While many wanted her to be cured as early as possible, it was Bhatt who stood by her. Babi’s ex boyfriends Kabir Bedi and Danny Dengzongpa were also by her side. With incessant panic attacks and nervous breakdowns, she vanished from the social circle, turning into a recluse. The treatment failed to cure her, and Bhatt was advised to stay away from her. Though he had to leave her, he always cited Babi as the woman who changed his life, to whom he owes everything. Babi’s struggle with schizophrenia was depicted in Woh Lamhe with Kangna Ranaut bringing her to life.

(The writer is a journalist and a screenwriter who believes in the insanity of words, in print or otherwise.)
Twitter: @RanjibMazumder