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), Krodhi (1981), Vidhaata (1982), Hero (1983), Meri Jung (1985), Karma (1986), Ram Lakhan (1989), Saudagar (1991), Khalnayak (1993), Pardes (1997), Taal (1999).
Subhash Ghai

Bollywood Hungama · Subhash Ghai announces Hello Darling - still 27030 · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Subhash Ghai
- Born
- 24 January 1945
- Birthplace
- Nagpur, Central Provinces and Berar, British India (present-day Maharashtra, India)
- Education
- Film and Television Institute of India
- Occupation
- * Director
- Nationality
- British Raj · Dominion of India · India
- Honours
- Filmfare Award for Best Director · IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award
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Documentary summary
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), Krodhi (1981), Vidhaata (1982), Hero (1983), Meri Jung (1985), Karma (1986), Ram Lakhan (1989), Saudagar (1991), Khalnayak (1993), Pardes (1997), Taal (1999).
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In this article
Biography
Biography
Ghai worked across film director, film producer, actor, screenwriter and film editor and 1 further recorded occupations. This article rests on 4 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

Madhuri, Subhash Ghai at the launch of 'Its Only Cinema' magazine
Bollywood Hungama
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Subhash Ghai • Born — 24 January 1945 • Birthplace — Nagpur, Central Provinces and Berar, British India (present-day Maharashtra, India) • Education — Film and Television Institute of India • Occupation — * Director • producer • screenwriter • actor • lyricist • editor • music director • Years Active — 1967–present • Website — http: muktaarts.com/ • Children — 2
Early life
Early life
Ghai was born in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. His 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
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. Post that he went on to direct Vishwanath in 1978, Gautam Govinda in 1979 and Karz in 1980. Thereafter, he directed the film Krodhi (1981) starring Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman. 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. As of 2016, he has written and directed a total of 16 movies.
Advisor
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
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. 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.
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Film — Director — Producer — Screenwriter — Notes • 1976 — Kalicharan • 1978 — Vishwanath • 1979 — Gautam Govinda • 1980 — Karz • 1981 — Krodhi • 1982 — Vidhaata • 1983 — Hero • 1984 — Naan Mahaan Alla • 1985 — Meri Jung • 1986 — Karma • 1989 — Ram Lakhan • 1991 — Saudagar • 1993 — Khalnayak • 1995 — Trimurti • 1997 — Pardes • 1999 — Taal • 2001 — Yaadein • Rahul • 2003 — Ek Aur Ek Gyarah • Joggers' Park • 2004 — Aitraaz • 2005 — Kisna • Iqbal • 2006 — 36 China Town • Shaadi Se Pehle • Apna Sapna Money Money • 2007 — Good Boy, Bad Boy • 2008 — Black & White • Yuvvraaj • 2009 — Paying Guests • 2010 — Right Yaaa Wrong • 2011 — Love Express • Cycle Kick • Naukadubi — Bengali film • Kashmakash • 2013 — Samhita • 2014 — Double Di Trouble — Punjabi film • Kaanchi • Nimbehuli — Kannada film • 2015 — Hero • 2022 — 36 Farmhouse
Acting credits
Acting credits
• Aradhana (1969) as Flight Lieutenant Prakash • Do Bachche Dus Haath (1972) as Inspector Rajesh • Dhamkee (1973) as CBI Inspector • Naatak (1975) as Prakash
Life and work
Life and work
Subhash Ghai was born on 24 January 1945 in Nagpur. Ghai held the nationality of India. Ghai was educated at Film and Television Institute of India. Ghai worked as film director, film producer, actor and screenwriter, and the authority record catalogues a further 2 occupations under the same name, among them film editor and director. Ghai was active from 1970.
Work for the screen
Work for the screen
Ghai worked for the screen, as film director, film producer and screenwriter. 20 films survive in the institutional catalogues, spanning 1976 to 2014. Among them are Kalicharan (1976), Vishwanath (1978), Gautam Govinda (1979), Karz (1980), Krodhi (1981) and Vidhaata (1982). The whole run is set out in the catalogue below.
Catalogued output
Films and moving-image works
These entries are catalogued as moving-image works. The 1980s are the densest part of the run, with 8 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself.
20 films carry dates between 1976 and 2014
The run opens with Kalicharan and closes with Kaanchi
Kalicharan
1976
Vishwanath
1978
Gautam Govinda
1979
Karz
1980
Krodhi
1981
Vidhaata
1982
Hero
1983
Meri Jung
1985
Karma
1986
Ram Lakhan
1989
The complete catalogue · 22
20 films carry dates between 1976 and 2014
The run opens with Kalicharan and closes with Kaanchi
Kalicharan
1976
Vishwanath
1978
Gautam Govinda
1979
Karz
1980
Krodhi
1981
Vidhaata
1982
Hero
1983
Meri Jung
1985
Karma
1986
Ram Lakhan
1989
Aag Se Khelenge
1989
Saudagar
1991
Khalnayak
1993
Pardes
1997
Taal
1999
Yaadein
2001
The Warrior Poet
2005
Yuvvraaj
2008
Black and White
2008
Kaanchi
2014
Primary material
Documents and archives
institutional register
- Bibliothèque nationale de France authority file 16255848s
General reference · Bibliothèque nationale de France
- GND (German National Library) authority file 1147093709
General reference · GND (German National Library)
- IdRef (French universities) authority file 160747694
General reference · IdRef (French universities)
- ISNI authority file 0000000115962841
General reference · ISNI
- Library of Congress authority file nr99028005
General reference · Library of Congress
- National Library of Australia authority file 40577890
General reference · National Library of Australia
reference work
- “Subhash Ghai”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Awards
Awards
• Year — Award — Category — Film • 1992 — Filmfare Awards — Best Director — Saudagar • 1998 — Best Screenplay — Pardes • 2022 — Lifetime Achievement Award • 2006 — National Film Awards — Best Film on Other Social Issues — Iqbal • 2015 — IIFA Awards — Lifetime Achievement Award • Business World — Pioneering contribution in the field of Cinema Exhibition • 2017 — Screen Awards — Lifetime Achievement Award • Amar Ujala — Lifetime Excellence • 2018 — Economic Times-Edge — Iconic Brand of Indian Cinema • 2019 — 1st Diorama International Film Festival & Market — Lifetime Achievement Award • 2022 — The FilmFare Award — Lifetime Achievement Award
Honours and awards
Where the work is held
Honours and awards
2 honours stand against the name
IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award
Filmfare Award for Best Director
1992
Authority records
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Profile – Mukta Arts. Mukta Arts. 14 February 2008.
- 2.Subhash Ghai delivers 24th film as a silver jubilee hit; '36 Farmhouse' continues to break records on OTT. The Times of India. 17 July 2022.
- 3.Directorate of Film Festivals. 53rd National Film Awards.
- 4.Subhash Ghai. HarperCollins Publishers India Books, Novels, Authors and Reviews.
- 5.Directorate of Film Festival.
- 6.Showman Subhash Ghai to receive IIFA Lifetime Achievement award 2015. 28 May 2015.
- 7.Subhash Ghai: Lights, camera, action replay. Times of India. 30 March 2002.
- 8.Mukta Arts >> Board of Directors. Mukta Arts.
- 9.Board Of Directors. WWI.
- 10.Subhash Ghai WEF. 2017-04-06.
- 11.Subhash Ghai unveils dream project IndiaFM, Monday, 27 March 2006.
- 12.“Subhash Ghai is the one who asked me...”, The Times of India, 24 February 2009.
- 13.After Wild Wild Country, Subhash Ghai announces a film on Osho. Hindustan Times. 16 May 2018.
- 14.Subhash Ghai's biopic on Osho would be different from Wild Wild Country, asserts filmmaker Bollywood News. www.timesnownews.com. 6 June 2018.
- 15.Subhash Ghai to produce international biopic on Osho Rajneesh. The Times of India. 17 May 2018.
- 16.I.I.M.U.N. Board of Advisors. new.iimun.in.
- 17.Subhash Ghai says he used to greet wife with "ilu ilu", reveals it was their code word while dating. The Times of India. 0971-8257.
- 18.Farook, Farhana. My heroine has to be a seductress. Filmfare. January 10, 2013.
- 19.Board Of Directors.
- 20.Filmmaker Subhash Ghai accused of drugging, raping woman. Hindustan Times. 11 October 2018.
- 21.Subhash Ghai drugged and raped me: Woman recounts horrific experience. India Today. 11 October 2018.
- 22.Deeply pained by allegations says Subhash Ghai. NDTV.
- 23.Subhash Ghai's Kannada film. Rediff. 11 October 2011.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Bibliothèque nationale de France authority file 16255848sBibliothèque nationale de France
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
GND (German National Library) authority file 1147093709GND (German National Library)
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
IdRef (French universities) authority file 160747694IdRef (French universities)
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Library of Congress authority file nr99028005Library of Congress
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
National Library of Australia authority file 40577890National Library of Australia
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Every cited source · 9
- 01
Bibliothèque nationale de France authority file 16255848s
institutional register · General reference · Bibliothèque nationale de France
Consult the source - 02
GND (German National Library) authority file 1147093709
institutional register · General reference · GND (German National Library)
Consult the source - 03
IdRef (French universities) authority file 160747694
institutional register · General reference · IdRef (French universities)
Consult the source - 04
ISNI authority file 0000000115962841
institutional register · General reference · ISNI
Consult the source - 05
Library of Congress authority file nr99028005
institutional register · General reference · Library of Congress
Consult the source - 06
National Library of Australia authority file 40577890
institutional register · General reference · National Library of Australia
Consult the source - 07
- 08
“Subhash Ghai”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
reference work · Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Consult the source - 09
Wikidata, structured authority record Q2475653: Subhash Ghai
institutional register · General reference · Wikimedia Foundation
Consult the source
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Citizenship
1- IndiaPlace
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,604 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- SubliminalPerson
- Subodh BhavePerson
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