Prakash Mehra

New delhi 17 MAY, (Sunil Kumar/VNI) Prakash Mehra ( 13 July 1939 – 17 May 2009) was a well known director and producer  known for his hit Hindi films. He was one of the pioneers of masala films, along with Nasir Hussain, and Manmohan Desai. His association with the actor Amitabh Bachchan resulted in several box office blockbusters and classics, due to which Mehra was considered among the 'great Directors' of his time.

Born on 13 July 1939 in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, Mehra started in the late 1950s as a production controller.  One of his initial films was Haseena Maan Jayegi. . In 1973, he produced and directed Zanjeer. This hit with Amitabh Bachchan started a  successful    association that spanned 7 more films, 6 being blockbuster hits: Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Lawaaris, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi.

This is how  Amitabh bachchan  compares film maker prakash mehra  and manhohan desai

Mehra always relies on more personal emotions and extending it to three hours. Desai also relies on personal emotions - but he has so many other things and you don't get a chance to sit down and think back. He bulldozes, and you begin to enjoy that bulldozing. Mehra's canvas is smaller than Desai's, but people like to see his kind of emotionalism.