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Pooja Bhatt

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Pooja Bhatt
Bhatt in 2019
Born (1972-02-24) 24 February 1972 (age 52)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • director
Years active1989–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2003; div. 2014)​
FatherMahesh Bhatt
RelativesSee Bhatt family

Pooja Bhatt (born 24 February 1972) is an Indian actress, director, and filmmaker.[1] She established herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two National Film Awards and one Filmfare Awards.

Born into the Bhatt family, she is the daughter of Indian filmmaker, Mahesh Bhatt. Bhatt played her first leading role in Mahesh Bhatt's television film Daddy in 1989. For the film, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Her breakthrough came with the romance comedy Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), which also emerged as her highest grossing release. In the following decade, Bhatt began portraying various of characters, garnering critical acclaim for her performances including Sadak (1991), Junoon (1992), Naaraaz (1994), Chaahat (1996), Tamanna (1997), Border (1997), Kabhi Na Kabhi (1998), Angaaray (1998), Zakhm (1998).

Early life

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See also: Bhatt family

Pooja Bhatt was born on 24 February 1972[2] to Mahesh Bhatt and Kiran Bhatt (born Loraine Bright).[3] On her father's side, Bhatt is of Gujarati descent and on her mother's side, she is of English, Scottish, Armenian, and Burmese ancestry.[3][4] She is the step-daughter of Soni Razdan. She has a brother, Rahul Bhatt and half-sisters Shaheen Bhatt and Alia Bhatt.[4] Her cousins are Hitarth Bhat and Emraan Hashmi.[5]

Career

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Bhatt at Queer Film Festival.

Bhatt made her acting debut at age 17, in 1989 with Daddy, a TV film directed by her father Mahesh Bhatt. In the film, she portrayed a soul-searching teenage girl in an estranged relationship with her alcoholic father, played by actor Anupam Kher. Her performance in the film earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. [6][7] Her biggest solo hit and her big screen debut came with the romantic comedy Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991) opposite Aamir Khan,[4] which was a remake of the Oscar-winning Hollywood classic It Happened One Night (1934). The film proved to be a breakthrough for Bhatt.

Her most well-known films in the 1990s included Sadak[4] opposite Sanjay Dutt, The film is one of the highest-grossing movies of the year 1991.[8] The film was inspired by the 1976 American film Taxi Driver.[9] Then in 1992 she was seen in Prem Deewane, the film was directed by Sachin Pilgaonkar and produced by Ashok Ghai. The film was released in India on 12 June, which also stars an ensemble cast including Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, Vivek Mushran, Manohar Singh, Ashalata Wabgaonkar, Prem Chopra and Kamal Chopra. In the same year, she starred in Junoon, this film was reportedly inspired by the 1981 film An American Werewolf in London, the film was successful at the box office and received favourable reviews.[10]

In 1993, she appeared in many films including Jaanam which is about a boy and girl from opposing families meet and fall in love, determined not to let the hate between their parents stand in the way of their happiness and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee which was an Indian 90's melodious musical Hindi-language romance film, both the films was widely appreciated by Critics.[11] Then she starred in Sir opposite debutant Atul Agnihotri. This film is about a peace-loving college professor Amar, who loses his son in a war break-out between the two gang leaders; Veljibhai and Chhapan Tikli. The lonely Professor focuses on helping students, who is in love with her classmate Karan, against her father's wishes. The film was remade in Telugu as Gangmaster, with Rajasekhar.[12] After that she appeared in Chor Aur Chaand opposite Aditya Pancholi. It is a love story with the backdrop of drugs and its effect on the youth of the nation. Although the film underperformed at the box office, it developed a significant cult following over the years since its release.[13] Her next release was Ashutosh Gowariker's thriller Pehla Nasha, co-starring Deepak Tijori, Raveena Tandon, and Paresh Rawal. The movie is a remake of Brian de Palma's 1984 thriller Body Double. The film also has cameo appearances by Aamir Khan, Sudesh Berry, Rahul Roy, Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Saif Ali Khan as themselves. It remains the only film to have Aamir, Shah Rukh and Saif in a scene together along with Rahul Roy and Sudesh Berry.[14] Upon release, the film received negative reviews and failed at the box office.[15] Bhatt's final release of 1993 was Mahesh Bhatt's romantic action film Tadipaar, with Mithun Chakraborty. The movie was released on the same day as Mithun's Shatranj and both went on to become hits based on Mithun's stupendous popularity at the time.[16]

After starring in many hit movies, she did many films including, Guneghar (1995) opposite Atul Agnihotri, and Naaraaz (1994) opposite Mithun Chakraborty, Hum Dono opposite Rishi Kapoor, Angrakshak opposite Sunny Deol (1995). Then in 1996 Bhatt, stars in Chaahat opposite Shah Rukh Khan, the film earned a total of ₹6.87 crore (US$820,000) nett, and was declared "Below Average" by Box Office India.[citation needed] It was the 15th-highest-grossing film of the year in India.[17]

She next starred as an abandoned girl in the thriller film Tamanna, which marked her first production venture under her Pooja Bhatt Productions. It also won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues. Bhatt began 1997 with a role in Jyoti Prakash Dutta’s ensemble drama Border, the film was released worldwide on 13 June 1997 with positive reviews from critics and garnered critical acclaim for its story, execution, scale, showing off the battle, direction, screenplay, performances and soundtrack.[18] It opened to strong box office results, had a final domestic net total of ₹394 million (US$4.7 million) and was declared an all-time blockbuster by Box Office India. It also became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1997 in India, but if according to worldwide, it was the second highest-grossing film of the year behind Dil To Pagal Hai. Border grossed a worldwide total of ₹655.7 million and it was the fourth biggest blockbuster film of the 90s decade.[19]

Bhatt gained further success in (1998) with the film Zakhm, opposite Ajay Devgan, which won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. Zakhm was based on the life of Mahesh Bhatt's mother Shirin Mohammad Ali, while she essayed her character in this film.[20][21][22] The performance of Bhatt was well received, for which she received a Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) nomination. Bhatt was also part of a film Angaaray, opposite Akshay Kumar and Nagarjuna. [23] The movie was inspired by the American film State of Grace. [24] The movie turned out to be a commercially successful. [25] All these achievements established Bhatt as one of the most successful actresses of the year, according to Box Office India.

In 2001 Bhatt starred in an English-language drama film Everybody Says I'm Fine!, which was written and directed by Rahul Bose. The film was also premiered on 12 September at the Toronto International Film Festival. [26] Her last film appearance was in the Romantic film Sanam Teri Kasam in 2009, opposite Saif Ali Khan and Atul Agnihotri. [27][28]

Bhatt (right) with her father Mahesh Bhatt and actress Mallika Sherawat in 2004.

From 2003 to 2012, she focused on producing and directing. She made her directorial debut with Paap in 2004, starring John Abraham and Udita Goswami. Since then, she has made four more directorial ventures: Holiday (2006), Dhokha (2007), Kajraare (2010) and Jism 2 (2012).[25]

In 2020, Bhatt returned to acting with Sadak 2, a sequel to the hit 1991 film. Her father returned to directing with this film after 20 years, while her half-sister Alia Bhatt also co-starred alongside her.[29] It was released on 28 August 2020 on the streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar.[30]

In 2021, Bhatt made her web series debut in the Netflix series Bombay Begums. It also featured Amruta Subhash, Shahana Goswami, Plabita Borthakur, Aadhya Anand and Rahul Bose.[31]

Personal life

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Bhatt married restaurateur Manish Makhija in 2003. They divorced in 2014.[32][33]

Media image and other works

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In the 90s', Bhatt has often been regarded as one of the most stylish and bold actresses in Bollywood.[34] She has appeared boldly in many magazine covers including Stardust, Cine Blitz, and Filmfare.[35] In Rediff.com's "The Best Actresses" list of 2021, she ranked 10th.[36] In the same year, PETA India named her as the Hero for Animals for her support for never using animals in films.[37] In 2022, Bhatt joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which resumed in Hyderabad.[38]

Filmography

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Filmmaker

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Year Film Producer Director Production Designer
1997 Tamanna Yes No No
1998 Dushman Yes No No
1998 Zakhm Yes No No
2002 Sur: The Melody of Life Yes No No
2003 Jism Yes No Yes
2003 Paap Yes Yes Yes
2005 Rog Yes No No
2006 Holiday Yes Yes No
2007 Dhokha No Yes No
2010 Kajraare No Yes No
2012 Jism 2 Yes Yes No
2019 Cabaret Yes No No

Acting roles

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Year Film Role Note
1989 Daddy Pooja Debut film
1991 Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin Pooja Dharamchand
Sadak Pooja
1992 Prem Deewane Radha
Jaanam Anjali
Saatwan Aasman Pooja Malhotra
Junoon Dr. Nita V. Chauhan
1993 Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee Pooja
Sir Pooja
Chor Aur Chaand Reema D. Seth
Pehla Nasha Monica
Tadipaar Mohinidevi/Namkeen
1994 Kranti Kshetra Pooja
Naaraaz Sonia
Boyfriend Bilingual film in Hindi and Telugu
1995 Gunehgar Pooja Thakur
Hum Dono Priyanka Surendra Gupta
Angrakshak Priyanka Choudhary/Priya
1996 Kalloori Vaasal Pooja Tamil film
Chaahat Pooja
1997 Tamanna Tamanna Ali Sayed
Border Kammo
1998 Yeh Aashiqui Meri Anju
Kabhi Na Kabhi Tina
Angaaray Pooja
Zakhm Mrs. Desai
2001 Everybody Says I'm Fine! Tanya
2009 Sanam Teri Kasam Seema Khanna
2020 Sadak 2 Pooja Varma
2022 Chup: Revenge of The Artist Zenobia Shroff

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 Bombay Begums Rani Irani
2023 Bigg Boss OTT 2 Contestant 4th runner-up
2024 Big Girls Don't Cry Anita Verna

Awards and recognitions

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Year Award(s) Category Film(s) Result
1990 36th Filmfare Awards Best Female Debut Daddy Won
1992 Smita Patil Memorial Award Best Actress — Won
Stardust Awards Performer of the Year — Won
1999 Bollywood Movie Awards Best Actress (Critics) Zakhm Won
Most Sensational Actress — Nominated
Sansui Viewers' Choice Movie Awards Best Actress Critics Zakhm Nominated
Zee Cine Awards Best Actress (Jury) Nominated
Filmfare Awards Best Actress Critics Nominated
Screen Awards Best Actress Nominated
Face of the Year Won
1999 44th National Film Awards Best Film on Other Social Issues Tamanna Won
1999 46th National Film Awards Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration Zakhm Won
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Best Actress (Hindi) Won
2004 Zee Cine Awards Best Debut Director Paap Nominated
Star Guild Awards Best Debut Director Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Pooja Bhatt photos: 50 rare HD photos of Pooja Bhatt". The Indian Express. 8 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Birthday Exclusive: Pooja Bhatt". Deccan Chronicle. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b Nath, Dipanita (15 November 2016). "Letters from Father to Daughter". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Pooja Bhatt: Lesser known facts". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  5. ^ Sharma, Aditi (15 May 2021). "Emraan Hashmi spills the beans on Mahesh Bhatt-Mukesh Bhatt split". Zee News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  6. ^ Goyal, Divya (17 April 2018). "Pooja Bhatt On The Irony Of Having Saved' An Alcoholic Father In Daddy Only To Battle Drinking Problem Herself". NDTV. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  7. ^ Verma, Sukanya (15 January 2014). "Classic revisited: Daddy, Mahesh Bhatt's touching fairy-tale". Rediff.com. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Top Earners of 1991, Boxoffice India". Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  9. ^ "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | 7days | No ripoffs, please". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009.
  10. ^ Sahani, Alaka (12 January 2020). "The horror film shrugs off its B-movie tag, as filmmakers spike the genre with subversion and reality". The Indian Express. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee, starring Pooja Bhatt, Rahul Roy, Pooja Bedi". India Today. 15 August 1993. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Atul Agnihotri goes down the memory lane as his debut film, 'Sir' clocks 26 years". The Times of India. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Aditya Pancholi, Pooja Bhatt's 1993 film Chor Aur Chand deserves a revisit simply for its melodious soundtrack". First Post. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  14. ^ Gupta, Rachit (8 July 2016). "7 films where Khans worked together". Filmfare. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  15. ^ Bhatkal, Satyajit (2002). The Spirit of Lagaan. Popular Prakashan. p. 15. ISBN 978-81-7991-003-0. OCLC 50712244.
  16. ^ "Tadipaar Song - 'Bikhri Zulfon Ko Sajaane Ki'". The Times of India. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Top India Total Nett Gross 1996". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Border: An ambitious '71 war story is a mission unaccomplished". India Today. 23 June 1997. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Top Hits 1990-1999 - - Box Office India".
  20. ^ Khanabar, Ankita (15 March 2023). "Pooja Bhatt recalls wearing her grandmother's saree and mangalsutra in 'Zakhm' as the film was based on Mahesh Bhatt's mother's life - Exclusive!". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Pooja Bhatt recalls being terrified of playing her grandmom in Zakhm". Hindustan Times. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  22. ^ "When Mahesh Bhatt's father put sindoor on his mother's remains: 'It was too little too late, that broke me down'". The Indian Express. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Angaaray". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  24. ^ Verma, Suparn (22 July 1998). "It's cool in the underworld". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Angaaray - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  26. ^ Subhash K. Jha (9 May 2003). "At the crossroads". India Abroad. Rahul Bose, who won the second prize at the Palm Springs Festival for his directorial debut...
  27. ^ "Sanam Teri Kasam Movie Review". The Times of India. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  28. ^ "Movie review: Sanam Teri Kasam - Indian Express".
  29. ^ "Mahesh Bhatt returns to direction with Sadak 2, daughters Alia and Pooja to star with Sanjay Dutt". The Indian Express. 20 September 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  30. ^ "Alia Bhatt announces Sadak 2 premiere on August 28 on Disney+ Hotstar". Bollywood Hungama. 6 August 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  31. ^ Keshri, Shweta (16 July 2020). "Netflix's Bombay Begums starring Pooja Bhatt deals with desire, ethics and vulnerabilities". India Today. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  32. ^ Sharma, Dishya (1 August 2023). "When Pooja Bhatt Revealed Reason Behind Separating from Manish Makhija: 'I Was Tired of Being...'". News18. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Bigg Boss OTT 2: Pooja Bhatt Says Divorce Was The "Lowest Phase" Of Her Life - "It Felt Like Death"". NDTV. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Pooja Bhatt Bold Fashion Sense". India Times. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Pictures of celebrities' on magazine covers". The Times of India. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  36. ^ "The BEST ACTRESSES of 2021". Rediff. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  37. ^ "Pooja Bhatt honored by PETA". Filmfare. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  38. ^ IANS (2 November 2022). "Pooja Bhatt Joins Bharat Jodo Yatra In Hyderabad". Outlook. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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