Mahesh Bhatt has confirmed that he won’t direct another film. The veteran filmmaker is happy to produce films and theatre plays, but not a feature film, as he feels that content today has become pre-decided.
Thus, he said, the role of an artiste gets diminished. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Mahesh Bhatt established himself as one of Bollywood’s most prolific directors, known for creating deeply personal stories.
In a recent chat with Hindustan Times, Mahesh Bhatt was asked if he would return to direction again. He said, “No, because it is so gratifying to talk about movies so passionately.” When asked about the reason behind his retirement as a director, he said, “Where there is life, there is vitality.”
He explained, “There is caution where things are dictated to you. And then, when you are to make content according to certain designs which have been pre-decided, then what is the role of an artiste?” However, he also expressed that he doesn’t feel that Hindi cinema has fallen into a hopeless lull.
“One of the finest things I’ve seen recently is Main Vaapas Aaunga by Imtiaz Ali. I wrote about it. I feel that this is a moment of rebellion. When you put your heart into it and listen to the heartbeat of the times, you see a longing, a thirst in people for something sensitive and painful that connects to their lives. No matter how dark the night is, there will be renegades, there will be rebels who will come and rewrite the narrative,” he explained.
He said, “I think that this storytelling is the lifeblood of the human race, and you will have storytellers who will dare to break away from the conformity which is imposed on you and the massification which is taking place. All the algorithms that are pushing you to the platforms that want only numbers are compelling you to cut yourself and fit into what the template is. But there will always be somebody outside, an audacious person who will become the new Pied Piper.”
Mahesh Bhatt made his directorial debut with Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain in 1974. His initial years as a filmmaker were marked by commercial disappointments, with several early films failing to make an impact at the box office. The turning point came in the early 1980s with Arth (1982). Arth remains one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated relationship dramas.
He followed it with Saaransh (1984), featuring Anupam Kher in his breakthrough role as an elderly man coping with the loss of his son. His filmography during the 1990s included successful titles such as Sadak (1991), Sir (1993), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (as writer), Criminal (1995), Tamanna (1997), Duplicate (1998) and Dastak (1996).
Although he previously also stepped away from direction after Kartoos (1999), only to briefly return for Sadak 2 in 2020, Bhatt’s influence on Indian cinema remains undeniable. He has directed more than 50 films, many of which continue to be regarded as classics.
