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Mehul Kumar

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Mehul Kumar
Born
Mohammed Ibrahim Baloch

(1949-07-01) 1 July 1949 (age 75)
Alma materBombay University[1]
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, writer, journalist
Years active1977-present
Children3

Mohammed Ibrahim Baloch (or Bloch; born 1949), better known as Mehul Kumar, is an Indian filmmaker and writer in Bollywood.[2][3] He is known for directing the films Tirangaa (1992), Krantiveer (1993) and Kohram (1999).[1] His other works include Mrityudaata (1997) and Kitne Door Kitne Paas (2002) among others as well as several Gujarati films.

Early life and work

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Mehul Kumar was born as Mohammed Baloch into a Makrani Baloch family in the city of Jamnagar, Gujarat in 1949. Graduating from Bombay University he started as a journalist during the early 1970s which included writing film reviews. He then moved to work in Gujarati theatre.[1]

Career

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He made his directorial debut with a Gujarati comedy Chandu Jamadar (1977), a remake of Dada Kondke's highly successful lowbrow Marathi comedy Pandu Havaldar (1975).[1] Though it was Kumar's 1977 bilingual Hindi-Gujarati film Phir Janam Lenge Hum/Janam Janam Na Saathi[4][5] produced by Tahir Hussain which first gained recognition. After its success, Kumar directed eighteen successful Gujarati films over the years.

Kumar then made his second Hindi project Anokha Bandhan (1982). After that he directed films with actors like Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Shabana Azmi, Madhuri Dixit, Shatrughan Sinha, Mehmood and Feroz Khan among others.

Then came Kumar's blockbuster golden jubilee hit Marte Dam Tak (1987) which starred Raaj Kumar, Govinda and Farah. Jungbaaz, Nafrat Ki Aandhi and a string of back-to-back films followed in the 1980s. In the '90s he made commercially successful films like Tirangaa (1992) starring Raaj Kumar and Nana Patekar. Then followed Krantiveer (1993) based on the Bombay riots. Krantiveer was a blockbuster with Patekar winning a National Film Award for his performance.[1]

Kumar then directed ABCL's debut venture Mrityudaata (1997) which was Amitabh Bachan's comeback film after five years, but it emerged as a box-office failure. He brought Nana Patekar and Amitabh Bachchan together in Kohram (1999). Although it was commercially unsuccessful as well, it is remembered for the performances of its lead actors. He then made Kitne Door Kitne Paas (2002), which fared well. His next film Jaago (2004) was based on a real life incident and was one of the first films to raise awareness about rape in India. His last film was Krantiveer: The Revolution (2010) starred his daughter Jahan Bloch in the lead role and was a sequel to Krantiveer.

He has also produced some of his films like Tirangaa, Krantiveer, Kohram and Jaago. Other actors which have appeared and collaborated with Kumar on film projects include Dimple Kapadia, Naseeruddin Shah, Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor.

Personal life and family

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Kumar runs Mehul Cinemax, a film theatre in Jamnagar owned by his production company Mehul Entertainments Private Limited.[6]

His brother Hussain Bloch is a film director in Gujarati cinema and has also worked with Kumar in many of his films.[7] Kumar's daughter Jahan Bloch appeared as the lead in Krantiveer's sequel Krantiveer: The Revolution (2010). She had previously appeared as a child actress in his films. Having since moved to Prince Edward's Island with her chef husband, she now runs a bakery while also working as a filmmaker.[8] His son Zoheb Mohammed Bloch has assisted Kumar as a director in films. He has another daughter Shameem Khan, a costume designer, and a brother production manager Mohamed Bloch; both of whom have worked with Kumar on his films.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Language Notes
2010 Krantiveer: The Revolution Hindi Also writer of screenplay, story and dialogues
2004 Jaago Hindi Also producer
2002 Kitne Door Kitne Paas Hindi Also producer, writer of screenplay and story
1999 Kohram Hindi Also producer
1997 Mrityudaata Hindi Also writer of screenplay and story
1997 Lahu Ke Do Rang Hindi Also writer of screenplay and story
1994 Krantiveer Hindi Also producer
1993 Aasoo Bane Angaarey Hindi
1992 Tirangaa Hindi Also producer
1991 Paap Ki Aandhi Hindi
1991 Meet Mere Man Ke Hindi
1989 Na-Insaafi Hindi
1989 Jungbaaz Hindi Also story writer
1989 Asmaan Se Ooncha Hindi
1989 Nafrat Ki Aandhi Hindi
1987 Marte Dam Tak Hindi
1986 Sayba Mora Gujarati
1986 Ujali Meraman Gujarati
1985 Bhauji Maay Maithili
1985 Meru Malan Gujarati
1985 Preet Na Karsho Koi Gujarati
1984 Love Marriage Hindi
1984 Hiran Ne Kanthe Gujarati
1983 Dhola Maru Gujarati Also writer
1983 Marad No Mandvo Gujarati
1982 Anokha Bandhan Hindi
1982 Dholi Gujarati
1982 Kanchan Aur Ganga Hindi
1982 Maa Vina Soona Sansar Gujarati
1982 Naseeb No Khel Gujarati
1981 Gamdani Gori Gujarati Also writer
1981 Garvi Naar Gujaratan Gujarati
1981 Ranchandi Gujarati
1979 Rajputani Gujarati
1978 Kanchan Ane Ganga Gujarati
1977 Chandu Jamadar Gujarati
1977 Phir Janam Lenge Hum/Janam Janam Na Saathi Hindi/Gujarati Bilingual film

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Mehul Kumar. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. indiancine.ma.
  2. ^ Mrityudaata director in legal soup. Hindustan Times.
  3. ^ a b Mohamed Ibrahim Bloch. Open Corporates.
  4. ^ Narwekar, Sanjit (1994). Directory of Indian Film-makers and Films. Flicks Books. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-948911-40-8.
  5. ^ Deep, Maan Singh (2020). Bollywwod Secrets. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5296-655-4.
  6. ^ About. mehulcinemax.com.
  7. ^ We are still working on the subject: Hussain Bloch. Times of India.
  8. ^ PEI filmmaker Jahan Bloch's feature film. CBC.ca.
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