Dear Mukesh Bhatt
While in Seychelles we spent a lot of time together, traveled to locations in a large bus playing Bollywood hit songs. Everyone was so happy both on and off the sets. Every evening was a party with ample of food and laughter and nobody was in a hurry to say good night.
One evening we decided to trail your journey and you looked for a picturesque spot to chat uninterrupted. Over elaichi chai served in fancy cups the mood was perfect to roll your story…
You said you began your career as secretary to Smita Patil and after her demise in 1986, you didn’t want to continue as a secretary to anyone. You were depressed and stopped working but you hung out with brother Mahesh Bhatt on his sets and felt better. One day, you told him you were contemplating setting up your production company. Mahesh was encouraging, so without much ado, you announced Vishesh Films named after your son.
You had a company now but didn’t know how to begin a film, you were still hanging out with Mahesh and friendly with all his actors, particularly Sanjay Dutt, you decided why not make a film with Sanjay Dutt directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Everyone in the team was affectionate and supportive and the film completed in nine months. It wasn’t a super success but it gave you financial stability and more important, confidence. You told me that you purchased your first car and your editing room after the release of Kabzaa.After an easy start Jurm with an old friend Vinod Khanna was a nightmare because the man who went to America wasn’t the same man who returned. The new Vinod was mysterious and unpredictable, he cancelled dates at random and you were depressed when he reported to work and depressed when he didn’t. The delay in release added to severe and you wondered if becoming a producer was a mistake. It was during this lowly phase, when pressures mounted you strolled into a party just to let your hair down unknowing that an opportunity awaited you in the guise of Gulshan Kumar of T Series. Kumar mentioned that he was venturing into production and if you agreed it could be a joint venture. You were not sure if it was a right move but agreed. The film was Aashique, year 1990 and rest is history.