Renu Saluja

Renu Saluja Biography

Renu Saluja was one of the leading editors of Indian film industry and perhaps the most versatile female artist in the field of editing. She has received National awards four times for her creative and artistic work for the movies - Parinda (1989), Dharavi (1991), Sardar (1993) and Godmother (1999). She has won Filmfare awards twice for Parinda (1989) and 1942: A Love Story (1994). She has also won Star screen awards for best editing in the year 1997 for Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin. She was one of the leading editors of the industry during 90’s. She was married to producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra. They got divorced and later she married critically well acclaimed film maker - Sudhir Mishra. She has worked as an editor for both these directors and has become a part of many memorable hits. She has also worked for top directors like Govind Nihalani, Shekhar Kapoor, Vijay Singh and Mahesh Bhatt. She died in the year 2000 when she was at the peak of her career and almost all awards she won belong to the era of 90’s, thus placing her among the top editors of that decade. She died in Mumbai, on 16 August 2000 due to stomach cancer aged 48.

As an editor, her first movie was Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s diploma film, Murder at Monkey Hill (1976) which won National awards for best experimental film in the year. She soon edited many critically well acclaimed movies like - Saeed Akhtar Mirza's Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai (1980), Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Sazaye Maut (1981), Govind Nihalani's Ardh Satya and Kundan Shah's comedy classic, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983). She concentrated most on parallel cinema during this time.  Parinda (1989) was the first main stream movie edited by Renu for which she won her first National and Filmfare awards.

Her successful works during 90’s include - Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), Bandit Queen (1995), Pardes (1997), Rockford (1999) and Hey Ram (2000), Bollywood Calling.  Calcutta Mail released in the year 2003 was her last work. Renu was first married to Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Though they separated she continued to work for his films as editor and assistant director. She married Sudhir Mishra and later she has edited his movies too. When Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi was released in 2005, Sudhir dedicated this movie to his late wife stating that she was his true inspiration behind scripting the powerful role of Geetha.  

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Updated: September 23, 2013