Nanabhai Bhatt

Nanabhai Bhatt Biography

Nanabhai Bhatt was one of the earliest filmmakers of Hindi and Gujarati cinema. The father of ‘Bhatt
camp’, he was the father of famous film makers – Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt and scriptwriter Robin 
Bhatt. Actress of yesterdays - Purnima Das Verma, maternal grandmother of Emraan Hashmi was his 
sister-in-law. Purnima’s sister – actress Shirin Mohammad Ali was the second wife of Nanabhai Bhatt. 
One of the earliest well-established film makers, Bhatt was known for making fantasy and mythological 
films, a formula that has been adapted by Bollywood many times even today. Bhatt directed the first 
Indian movie, where an actor played double role. The movie was his maiden venture as a director, 
Muqbala (1942) where Fearless Nadia played the role of twins.

Bhatt was born on June 12, 1915 in Porbandar, Gujarat. He was the patriarch of the Bhatt film family, 
one of the well-established film families of Bollywood. Both his second wife Shirin Mohammad Ali and 
sister-in-law Purnima Das Verma (earlier married to Mohammad Hashmi) were actors. He had five 
daughters and four sons. Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt – the leading film makers of Indian cinema 
at present are his sons. His younger son Robin Bhatt is an established film script writer known for the 
movies, Baazigar, Sadak, Aashique, Omkara, Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish etc. Nanabhai's brother, Balwant Bhatt 
(1909–1965) was also a film director. His grandchildren – Pooja Bhatt, Alia Bhatt and Rahul Bhatt are 
celebrities of Bollywood.

1942 movie, Muqbla was his debut movie as a director. Since then he has filmed over 100 films 
belonging to the genres of mythology and fantasy. Kangan (1959) starring Nirupa Roy and Ashok Kumar 
was a blockbuster. Mr. X (1957), Zimbo Comes to Town (1960) and Lal Qila (1960) are other noted 
works. He died on April 24, 1999 in Mumbai. Kabzaa in 1988 was his single movie as a producer.

Published: N/A

Updated: October 15, 2014