Anil Mehta

{{for-multi|the Indian politician|Anil Mehta (politician)|the Marathi publisher|Mehta Publishing House}}

{{Infobox person

| pre-nominals =

| name = Anil Mehta

| image =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = India

| alma_mater = FTII

| occupation = {{Hlist|Cinematographer|film director|screenwriter}}

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Anil Mehta is an Indian cinematographer, film director and writer who predominantly works in Hindi cinema. He is one of the founding members of Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC).{{Cite news |date=2016-01-31 |title=Cinematography is a skill, but is still underrated: Anil Mehta |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/Cinematography-is-a-skill-but-is-still-underrated-Anil-Mehta/article14030289.ece |access-date=2023-02-11 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |date=2016-02-01 |title=Hindi cinema cinematographer, through the lens |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/anil-mehta-through-the-lens/article8179234.ece |access-date=2023-02-11 |issn=0971-751X}}

Early life and education

Anil studied cinematography at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune in 1986.{{Cite web |last=Ramnath |first=Nandini |title=Anil Mehta on lensing 'Beyond the Clouds': 'Bombay still throws up surprises, one never tires of it' |url=https://scroll.in/reel/875785/anil-mehta-on-lensing-beyond-the-clouds-bombay-still-throws-up-surprises-one-never-tires-of-it |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}

Career

Anil initially worked with Ketan Mehta on Holi (1984) and Mirch Masala (1987) while he was a student and went on to assist Barun Mukherjee on television commercials.{{Cite web |last=Pandya |first=Sonal |title=The team behind Khamoshi recalls how Sanjay Bhansali's first film got made |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2016/aug/9/1663/the-team-behind-khamoshi-recalls-how-sanjay-bhansali-s-first-film-got-made |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117202007/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2016/aug/9/1663/the-team-behind-khamoshi-recalls-how-sanjay-bhansali-s-first-film-got-made |url-status=live |archive-date=17 November 2019 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Cinestaan}}

He debuted as a cinematographer on a short Indo-German drama film, The Cloud Door (1984). His first full-length film was Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), which was also Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial debut.

In 1999, he won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography for his work in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and later worked in Lagaan (2001), which was one of the most expensive Indian films at that time.{{Cite web |date=6 July 2018 |title=Hot 100 -2018, Cinematographers, Anil Mehta |url=https://www.digitalstudioindia.com/lists/3968-hot-100-cinematographers-anil-mehta |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=Digital Studio}}

= Early 2000s and present =

He also worked on Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Veer-Zaara (2004), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), Wake Up Sid (2009), Rockstar (2011), Cocktail (2012), Highway (2014) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).

Mehta's first feature film, Aaja Nachle, was produced by Yash Raj Films which released on 30 November 2007.{{cite web | title=yashrajfilms.com| work=Yash Raj's stellar line-up| url=http://www.yashrajfilms.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=568cb754-15ca-43a8-9d7d-01da684d2896| access-date=23 July 2006}} the film stars Madhuri Dixit (her comeback film), Konkona Sen Sharma, Akshaye Khanna and Kunal Kapoor.{{cite web|title=entertainment.oneindia.in |work=Madhuri Dixit on Aaja Nachle |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/madhuri-dixit-041206.html |access-date=23 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165549/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/madhuri-dixit-041206.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}

Filmography

= As cinematographer =

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Film

! Language

! Notes

1994

| The Cloud Door

| rowspan="15" | Hindi

| Short film

1996

| Khamoshi: The Musical

1999

| Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

2001

| Lagaan

rowspan="2" |2002

| Agni Varsha

Saathiya

2003

| Kal Ho Naa Ho

2004

| Veer-Zaara

|{{Cite web |date=2020-11-12 |title=16 Years Of Veer-Zaara: Cinematographer Anil Mehta Calls The Film A 'Fantastic Tribute From A Son To A Father' |url=https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/trending/16-years-of-veer-zaara-cinematographer-anil-mehta-calls-the-film-a-fantastic-tribute-from-a-son-to-a-father-article166432.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218032300/https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/trending/16-years-of-veer-zaara-cinematographer-anil-mehta-calls-the-film-a-fantastic-tribute-from-a-son-to-a-father-article166432.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 December 2020 |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Desimartini |language=en}}

2006

| Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

2007

| Marigold

2009

| Wake Up Sid

2011

| Rockstar

rowspan="2" |2012

| Cocktail

Jab Tak Hai Jaan

rowspan="2" |2014

|Highway

Finding Fanny

| Hindi
English

rowspan="2" |2015

| Badlapur

| rowspan="11" | Hindi

Shaandaar

2016

| Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

2017

| Secret Superstar

rowspan="2" |2018

| Beyond the Clouds

Sui Dhaaga

|{{Cite web |title=Decoding a scene {{!}} Anil Mehta's take on the crucial 'stitch' in 'Sui Dhaaga' |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2019/02/10/sui-dhaga-decoding-a-scene-anil-mehta.html |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=OnManorama}}

2020

| Angrezi Medium

2021

| Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar

rowspan="2" |2022

| Jersey

Darlings

2023

| Thank You for Coming