Arun Bhatt

Arun Bhatt (1934–2001) was an Indian film director active in Hindi and Gujarati cinema. He is considered as one of the most prominent filmmakers of Gujarati cinema in the 1970s and 1980s, alongside Babubhai Mistry, Dinesh Rawal, Krishnakant, Mehul Kumar and others.

Arun Bhatt was the eldest son of the late Vijay Bhatt, founder of Prakash Pictures, who had produced and directed movies like Ram Rajya, Baiju Bawra, Goonjh Uthi Shehnai, Hariyali aur Raasta, Himlaya Ki Godmein and many other movies. He was born on 26 September 1934.

Bhatt started his career as an assistant to his father. He started independently as a writer with Himalaya Ki Godmein. In 1960, he floated a banner of Vijay Films with his brother-in-law, Kishore Vyas and under this banner he made short films and documentaries.

Again, in the year 1971, he floated Vijay Films International, under which Arun Bhatt turned director, his first film being Verno Vaaras, which starred Arvind Joshi and Usha Solanki. After that he made Vardaan in Hindi with Vinod Mehra, Reena Roy and Mehmood. Then he produced Heera Aur Patthar with Shashi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and Asrani which was directed by his father, Vijay Bhatt. Midway, the film got delayed and then he started a Gujarati film, Maa Baap in which Asrani and Sushma Verma were cast in the lead for the first time. On 20 May 1977, Heera Aur Patthar was released, which failed miserably and exactly after a week on 27th, Maa Baap was released, which turned out to be a super hit. After that his Mota Ghar Ni Vahu, Navrang Chundadi also turned to be super hits and this too at a time when Gujarati films were made with a particular set of artistes. That is the time when he cast comedian Asrani as a hero and that too in a serious role. After that Lohini Sagaai, Ghar Gharni Vaat, Shetal Taara Oonda Pani, Pankhi No Malo, Sonani Jaal, Jugal Jodi, Paras Padamni, Lakhtar Ni Laadi Ne Vilaayat No Var, Via Viramgaam, Hiro Ghoghe Jai Aaviyo were made by him of which many were hits. Lakhtar Ni Laadi won 11 Gujarat State Awards. Sau Dada Sasuna Ek Dado Vahuno, Tejal Garasni and Deevaale E Dikra were other hits from the stables of Arun Bhatt.

Arun Bhatt won many an award from the Government of Gujarat for Pooja Na Phool, Sona Ni Jaal, Ghar Ghar Ni Vaat, Shetal Tara Oonda Pani and Lakhtar Ni Laadi Ne Vilayat No Var. After Vardaan, Bhatt also directed Hindi films - Ghar Jamai for producer Rajkumar Shahbadi which starred Mithun Chakraborty, Varsha Usgaonkar and Kadar Khan and directed Jawani Zindabad for Jay Mehta starring Aamir Khan, Farha and Kadar Khan.

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