Nanabhai Bhatt Explained

Nanabhai Bhatt
Birth Date:1915 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Porbandar, Porbandar State, Kathiawar Agency, British India
Death Place:Mumbai, Maharashtra
Nationality:Indian
Other Names:Yeshwant Bhatt
Batuk Bhatt
Years Active:19421988
Spouse:Hemlata Bhatt
Partner:Shirin Mohammad Ali
Children:9 (including Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt & Robin Bhatt)
Relatives:See Bhatt family

Nanabhai Bhatt (12 June 1915 – 24 April 1999) was an Indian film director and producer who worked in Hindi and Gujarati cinema.[1] [2] He is known for making over a hundred fantasy and mythological films,[3] including Mr. X (1957), Zimbo Comes to Town (1960), Lal Qila (1960) and the blockbuster Kangan (1959) starring Nirupa Roy and Ashok Kumar.[4] [5] His first film, Muqabala (1942), was the first to feature the double-role or "twins" phenomenon in Indian cinema, wherein lead actress Fearless Nadia alternated between the good sister and the gangster's moll. The formula was subsequently emulated in numerous Hindi films.[6]

Early life and career

Bhatt, called Yeshwant Bhatt, was born in a Nagar Brahmin family[7] on 12 June 1915 in Porbandar, British India.[8] He started his early career in films as a sound recordist with Prakash Pictures, working under his brother Balwant Bhatt, and then by writing "scripts and stories" using the name Batuk Bhatt.[9] He began his directorial venture when he joined Homi Wadia's team at Basant Pictures[10] by co-directing two films with Babubhai Mistri, Muqabala (1942) and Mauj (1943), under the same name.[11] He directed two more films as Batuk Bhatt, Homi Wadia's Hunterwali Ki Beti (1943) and Liberty Pictures Sudhar (1949).[12] Bhatt left Basant Pictures and started his own production company "Deepak Pictures" in 1946.

Personal life

Bhatt was the patriarch of the Bhatt film family.[13] Nanabhai was in relationship with a Shia Muslim actress, Shirin Mohammad Ali since 1939. The couple had six children – Sheila Bhatt, Purnima Bhasin, Kumkum Saigal, Mahesh Bhatt, Heena Suri and Mukesh Bhatt.[14] [15] Later, Nanabhai married Hemlata Bhatt – with whom he had three children – Robin Bhatt, Parmesh Bhatt, Mamta Bhatt.[16] [17]

He had five daughters and four sons, including film director and producer Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt, and Robin Bhatt.[18]

Bhatt died at Nanavati hospital in Mumbai from heart failure on 24 April 1999.[19] [20]

Filmography

Producer

Director

Notes and References

  1. News: News: Limping at 75 . . 4 May 2007 .
  2. News: 'Dhollywood' at 75 finds few takers in urban Gujarat. Financial Express. 22 April 2007.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20080604145605/http://www.chakpak.com/celebrity/nanabhai-bhatt/8824 Nanbhat Bhatt
  4. News: 1959: Year that was . . 29 May 1998 .
  5. News: Quicktakes: Bhatts bereaved . . 24 April 1999.
  6. News: SPECIAL: Is Old Gold?. Screen. 26 March 2010.
  7. Web site: 2021-03-15. On Alia Bhatt's birthday, tracing her Kashmiri, Gujarati, German roots. 2022-01-09. Hindustan Times. en.
  8. Web site: Mahesh Bhatt tours riot-ravaged Ahmedabad – Times of India. The Times of India. 2019-02-25.
  9. Book: Sanjit Narwekar. Directory of Indian film-makers and films. 24 January 2015. 1994. Flicks Books. 49. Bhatt, Nanabhai . 9780948911408.
  10. Book: Rachel Dwyer. Senior Lecturer in Indian Studies Rachel Dwyer. Filming the Gods: Religion and Indian Cinema. 25 January 2015. 27 September 2006. Routledge. 978-1-134-38070-1. 44–.
  11. Book: Ashish Rajadhyaksha. Paul Willemen. Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. registration. 24 January 2015. 26 June 1999. British Film Institute. 63. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: Batuk Bhatt Filmography. Gomolo.com. 24 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132116/http://www.gomolo.com/batuk-bhatt-movies-list-filmography/3181. 28 January 2015. live. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Mahesh Bhatt tours riot-ravaged Ahmedabad . The Times of India. 2019-02-25.
  14. Web site: Mahesh Bhatt’s father didn’t abandon either of his two wives, his claims about being illegitimate are ‘dishonest’: Nephew Dharmesh Darshan.
  15. Web site: The Saraansh of Mahesh Bhatt's life.
  16. Web site: ETimes BFFs: Did you know Faraaz producer Sahil Saigal is Alia Bhatt's cousin? Check out the long and complicated filmy lineage of the Bhatts!.
  17. Web site: Age. 96 years Left for her heavenly abode on 18.9.2015 Robin Bhatt & Family.
  18. Web site: The Dynamic Dynasties: What would the world of films be without them? . 22 September 2000 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100210044146/http://www.screenindia.com/old/20000922/50.htm . 10 February 2010 . dmy-all .
  19. News: Filmmaker Nanabhai Bhatt dead . Rediff . 23 April 1999 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160329200417/http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/23nana.htm . 29 March 2016 . live . dmy-all .
  20. News: Nanabhai Bhatt dead . The Tribune . 24 April 1999 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306143456/http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99apr25/nation.htm#10 . 6 March 2016 . live . dmy-all .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nanabhai Bhatt".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.