Subhash Ghai is a prominent Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who has made several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films in Bollywood. He was born on January 24, 1945, in Nagpur, India, and started his career in the film industry as an actor. He made his directorial debut with the film “Kalicharan” in 1976, which was a box-office success. Subsequently, he went on to direct and produce several hit films, including “Karz,” “Hero,” “Ram Lakhan,” and “Taal.” He is known for his signature style of storytelling, which often includes themes of family, love, and redemption. He has won several awards for his work, including several Filmfare Awards and the National Film Award for Best Popular Film. In addition to his work in the film industry, Subhash Ghai has also been involved in various philanthropic activities and is the founder of the Whistling Woods International Institute, a film school in Mumbai.
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Showman, Dream Merchant |
| Profession(s) | Film Director, Producer, Actor, Screenwriter, Music Director |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 170 cm in meters– 1.70 m in feet inches– 5’ 7” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms– 85 kg in pounds– 185 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 24 January 1945 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 78 Years |
| Birthplace | Nagpur, Maharashtra, India |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Aquarius |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| College/University | Film and Television Institute of India |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation In Commerce From Rohtak, Haryana |
| Debut | Film (Director): Kalicharan (1976) Film (Producer): Aitraaz (2004)  Film (Actor; Supporting Role): Taqdeer (1967)
|
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Khatri |
| Ethnicity | Punjabi |
| Hobbies | Reading, Writing, Listening to Music |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | 1998: Filmfare Award: Best Screenplay for Pardes 2006: National Film Award for Best Film On Other Social Issues: Producer for Iqbal 2013: Skill Tree Education Evangelist of India 2015: IIFA Award for outstanding contribution to Indian Cinema |
| Controversies | • In 1993, the controversial song “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” of his directorial movie “Khalnayak,” was criticized over the central theme of the lyrics of the song which was considered as vulgar and socially absurd. • After the shooting of Saudagar starring Manisha Koirala (her launching pad in Bollywood), Dilip Kumar, and Raj Kumar, Manisha’s mother Sushma Koirala revealed in an interview that Subhash Ghai made derogatory advances towards her daughter. She also told that he would daily have a one-hour discussion with Manisha in her vanity van in her absence. Although Manisha did not make any comment on these allegations, the star did not work with Subhai Ghai after that. Subhash refuted these allegations stating that Sushma Koirala wanted her daughter to become popular in a very short period and that’s the only motive behind those allegations. • In 2010, Israel-based model Rina Golan released her book “Dear Mister Bollywood: How I Fell in Love with India, Bollywood, and Shah Rukh Khan” revealing the bitter truth about the casting couch in Bollywood. Subhash Ghai’s name was among the few names she had mentioned in the book whom she met during her struggle in Bollywood. She claimed that starting her discussion with Subhash Ghai in the living room was gradually shifting to his bedroom. Subhash Ghai denied the rumors claiming that he could not even recall if he ever met Rina Golan or ever read her book. • In an interview, Salman Khan on being asked if he ever hit his ex-girlfriends “Katrina Kaif & Aishwarya Rai”, he revealed that he never hit the two actresses, and the only time he raised his hand was on director Subhash Ghai. Though he apologized to Subhash the very next day. Salman revealed that he smashed Ghai only after Ghai’s provocation “There are times when you do get out of control. That person hit me with a spoon, almost broke a plate on my face, pissed on my shoes, and grabbed me by the neck. I could not control myself. And see what happened. The next day, I had to go and apologize.” • In 2018, during the MeToo campaign, an anonymous woman alleged that he had drugged and raped him. Kate Sharma, an actress, and model also alleged that he molested her by forcefully trying to kiss and hug her. |
| Girls, Affairs, and More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | 1970 |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Rehana alias Mukta Ghai |
| Children | Son– None
|
| Parents | Father– K.D Ghai (Dentist)
Mother– Subhadra Ghai |
| Siblings | Brother– Ashok Ghai Sister– None |
| Favorite Things | |
| Favourite Director(s) | Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt |
| Favourite Actor(s) | Dilip Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt |
| Favorite Actresses | Aishwarya Rai, Alia Bhatt |
| Favorite Singer | Asha Bhosle, A. R. Rahman |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | Audi A4
|
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth (approx.) | ₹144 Crore |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Subhash Ghai
- Before making a name for himself in the film industry, Subhash Ghai worked as a chemist in his father’s factory.
- Subhash Ghai started his film career as an actor and made his acting debut in the film “Taqdeer” in 1967.
- Subhash Ghai’s production house is called Mukta Arts, which was named after his wife Mukta Ghai.
- Subhash Ghai is known for his love for music, and most of his films feature memorable songs and music. He has even written the lyrics for some of the songs of his film.
- Subhash Ghai is a trained classical dancer and has performed on stage several times.
- Subhash Ghai has been awarded the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in India, for his contribution to the field of arts.
- Subhash Ghai has launched the careers of several prominent actors in the film industry, including Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, and Anil Kapoor.
- Subhash Ghai is also a writer and has written several books, including his autobiography “The Showman Saga.”