“My mother was a Muslim and dad a Hindu. I got the best upbringing that anyone could. Never did I see any angst in my family owing to that: each practiced their own religion. My existence is the harmony that these two communities can achieve if they try.”

Indian film director, producer and screenwriter, retired

Mahesh Bhatt is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter in Hindi cinema. Retired from active filmmaking, he became a prominent figure in the 1980s and 1990s for work that often took on unconventional storytelling and bold themes. He directed and produced films that helped define a major phase of mainstream Hindi cinema, while also writing screenplays. His career has been recognized with several honors, including five National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards.