Pooja Bhatt, a name which has been heard by movie buffs of all ages. As she celebrates her birthday this week, we thought why not throw a flashback to her Bollywood career.
Half-Sister to Bollywood’s favourite Alia Bhatt, Pooja was born on 24th February 1972 to Mahesh Bhatt and Kiran Bhatt. Her father then married Soni Razdan, who is the stepmother of Pooja. Pooja also has a brother Rahul Bhatt. Apart from Alia, she has another half-sister named Shaheen.
Pooja Bhatt introduced herself to the world of Bollywood in 1991. In 1989, she made her debut at the age of 17. She featured in a TV film made by her father Mahesh.
Bollywood let her taste success in her first debut in Bollywood with the musical blockbuster Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991). This music video was liked so much across the World that a remake was made of the Oscar-winning Hollywood classic It Happened One Night.
Her journey started on a high note. She was then cast in films like:
Border (1997)
Sadak (1991),
Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, co-starring Aamir Khan (1991),
Sir (1993),
Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993),
Ghuneghar (1994),
Naaraaz (1994)
Angrakshak opposite Sunny Deol (1995),
Chaahat opposite Shahrukh Khan (1996),
Tamanna (1997),
and Zakhm (1998)
From the year 2001, she started focussing on producing and directing. Her first directorial debut was in Paap followed by other Bollywood films like Holiday (2006), Dhokha (2007), Kajraare (2010) and Jism 2 (2012).
She was awarded the Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year for Daddy in 1991. Later in 1997, she was felicitated with the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues for Tamanna. Lastly, she was felicitated with the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for her film ‘Zakhm’.
She married Manish Makhija, VJ, restaurateur but later separated after 11 years of marriage association. She announced her separation on Twitter saying: “To all those who care & especially those that don’t know, my husband Munna & I have decided to part ways after 11 glorious years of marriage. Our split as some might call it is amicable & we hold each other in the highest esteem for now and forever.”
