Sanjay Chel
What do Ashutosh Gowariker and Sanjay Chel have in common? Both made their debut with the same film, Pahla Nasha (1993) -- the former as the director and the latter as a writer.
The film was a debacle and Gowariker took some time to recover and make his mark. In contrast, Chel was successfully almost immediately. Rangeela (1995), Halo and Yes Boss (1997) brought him to the forefront and the writer in him was widely appreciated. His witty one-liners were one of the few bright spots in an otherwise listless Daud (1997).
His writing skills having been acknowledged, the Chel went behind the camera with Khoobsurat (1999) -- a rom-com starring the lead pair of Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar.
Khoobsurat witnessed Chel donning many caps. Besides directing it, he contributed to the story, screenplay and dialogues besides sharing the lyricist's responsibilities with Gulzar. The movie was an average success but the music, especially the song Aye Shivani, penned by Chel and rendered by Dutt, became a rage.
His subsequent effort, Kyaa Dil Ne Kaha (2002), tanked at the turnstiles, which Chel had to pay a heavy price for it. A couple of projects that had been announced with him as the director were shelved in the aftermath.
Undeterred, Chel went back to do what he did best -- writing. Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005) and Partner (2007) brought him back in the reckoning.
While his Kismat Konnection has generated considerable buzz, Chel is busy with his third directorial offering, Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam. The box office verdict of this Mallika Sherawat-Rahul Bose starrer will go to a great extent in determining Chel's future as a director.
In the picture: Aamir Khan and Urmila in a still from Rangeela.
Also Read: Mallika adds oomph to Mughal-E-Azam
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