RAKEYSH OMPRAKASH MEHRA

RAKEYSH OMPRAKASH MEHRA

As one of the most anticipated films of the year BHAG MLKHA BHAG approaches its release in July, the mind goes back to the creator of the movie - RAKEYSH OMPRAKASH MEHRA. The impact that RAKEYSH has had on Indian cinema and the psyche of Indians is tremendous.

Rakeysh started his career as an Ad filmmaker directing the likes of Amitabh Bachchan in television commercials, there is not an iota of doubt in the fact that advertising has given us some of the best filmmakers of our times, be it the common man’s crusader Raju Hirani or the simple stylist R.Balki.

Not many people know that it was Rakeysh who gave Mr.Bachhan his much celebrated look of the silver French beard in his first directorial venture AKS (2001), KBC was offered to AB in 2000 and the beard stuck and the rest they say is history, KBC and the look of Bachhan captured hearts and is still going strong even after 13 years.

However real history still beckoned Rakeysh as he embarked on a journey by the name of RANG DE BASANTI (2006) to create a story by mixing the past with the present, the bonhomie with the tears, the struggle with the sacrifice. He indeed created history; moreover he created hysteria by showcasing the problems of today’s youth 60 years after the battle of independence and the power of the people on the streets. It was a theme that many playwrights had talked about before him but DJ and gang brought it to life and placed the name RAKEYSH OMPRAKASH MEHRA in the celluloid hall of fame forever.

It is always difficult to come up with something different after creating a masterpiece like RDB but Mehra wanted to showcase to the world, the place where he grew up- his roots in DELHI-6 (2009), it was not celebrated like RDB but for people who have lived there and I proudly say that I am one of them, it was pure magic, how the two main religious communities still coexist in the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk is an example for all to emulate across the country.

Now the sporting legend Milkha Singh has given permission to Rakeysh to make a biopic on his life- a life which has seen great highs and lows , the expectations are huge just like Milkha Singh’s achievement’s in life, but if there is one man who could live up to this challenge it is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.