Hindi
Prakash Mehra bids adieu to the world
MUMBAI: Legendary Bollywood producer-director Prakash Mehra passed away yesterday after prolonged illness.
The 69-year-old Mehra died of pneumonia and multiple organ failure.
It was Mehra who cemented Amitabh Bachchan‘s career with Zanjeer in the early 70s as a angry young man that was followed by stupendous hits Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Laawaris, Namak Halal, Sharabi and Hera Pheri. Jadugar, their last film together in 1989, however, didn‘t do well.
Mehra started his journey in the industry as a production controller in the late 1950s but he switched to direction with Haseena Maan Jayegi in 1968. However, his first success came in 1971 with Mela which brought together the Khan brothers — Feroz Khan and Sanjay Khan – for the first time on silver screen.
Says Asha Parekh, who along with Dharmendra, worked with Mehra in the 1972 film Samadhi, “The news came as a shock to me, though I knew for some time that he wasn‘t keeping well. Prakashji was a wonderful person to work with. He was a director who knew all the intricacies of cinema. He was a man who believed in detailing everything. I for one have seen him rewriting the dialogues which he didn‘t like.”
In his long career, Prakash Mehra produced nine films, directed 22 films and wrote eight films. He even wrote lyrics for Chameli Ki Shaadi and Laawaris.
In 2006 Mehra was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement award from the India Motion Picture Directors Association (IMPDA) for his commendable contribution to the industry as a Director.
Two years later, in 2008, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award from the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) for his role as a Producer.
Mehra‘s health declined after his wife slipped into a coma. His conditioned further worsened after his wife‘s death. He was in the ICU and on ventilator following lung failure and infection.
Said an industry insider, “Prakashji had a very good sense of music and songs
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
