Vishal Bhardwaj, an accomplished Indian filmmaker, possesses a diverse range of talents including directing, screenwriting, producing, composing music, and singing. He has made a significant impact on Hindi cinema and has been honored with numerous accolades, including a Filmfare Award and seven National Film Awards across multiple categories.
Bhardwaj initially gained recognition as a music composer with the release of the children’s film “Abhay” (The Fearless) in 1995. However, it was his compositions for Gulzar’s “Maachis” in 1996 that truly propelled him into the spotlight. His exceptional work in this film earned him the prestigious Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. Subsequently, he went on to compose music for notable films such as “Satya” in 1998 and “Godmother” in 1999, the latter of which earned him the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.
In 2002, Bhardwaj made his directorial debut with the children’s film “Makdee,” for which he also composed the music. This venture garnered critical acclaim and marked the beginning of his successful career as a director. He received widespread recognition and numerous awards for his remarkable adaptations of three Shakespearean tragedies: “Maqbool” (2003) based on Macbeth, “Omkara” (2006) based on Othello, and “Haider” (2014) based on Hamlet. Bhardwaj has also directed other notable films including the thrilling “Kaminey,” the dark comedy “7 Khoon Maaf” (2011), and the satirical “Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola” (2013).
In addition to his directing endeavors, Bhardwaj is the founder of VB Pictures, under which he produces films. He has co-written and produced notable films such as “Ishqiya” (2010), its sequel “Dedh Ishqiya” (2014), and the crime drama “Talvar” (2015), among others. Bhardwaj has consistently composed the musical scores for both his directorial and production ventures, often collaborating with the renowned lyricist Gulzar. He is married to the talented playback singer Rekha Bhardwaj.