Gulzar, born Sampooran Singh Kalra on August 18, 1934, is an Indian poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, and film director. For more than sixty years, he has remained one of the most respected voices-from literature to cinema-in the country. Once he crosses ninety years in 2025, he will certainly carry the stature of an elder in the world of arts and letters.
Early Life & Roots
Gulzar was born in Dina in British India (present Pakistan).. After the Partition, his family migrated to several places before finally settling in Delhi. His childhood was nourished by an ardent love for language and poetry, which slowly metamorphosed into a love for cinema. He began his career behind the camera, slowly inching towards writing and direction-the two aspects that truly fulfilled him.
Career & Achievements
The name of Gulzar was born as a lyricist and dialogue writer. His arrival into notoriety in the Bollywood film set came in Bandini, where he was assigned to write lyrics. With time, he worked with almost all leading music composers and filmmakers of India, having written songs and scripts now considered classics.
As a writer and director, Gulzar has given accepted works like Mere Apne, Parichay, Koshish, Aandhi, Mausam, and television works like Mirza Ghalib. He weaves poetic sensibility with a mature understanding of human feelings into his storytelling approaches, granting both serious artistic weight and popular appeal to his works.
Throughout his career, he has received multiple honours: National Awards, Filmfare Awards, a Padma Bhushan, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and the Jnanpith Award. His name is synonymous with profound lyrics and socially relevant cinema.
Personal Life & Family
Gulzar married actress Raakhee in 1973. The couple had a daughter, Meghna Gulzar, who also became a filmmaker in his shadow. Though Gulzar and Raakhee later lived separately, they have always respected one another and shared life bonds and responsibilities for their daughter. Meghna has worked several times with her father and credits him with guiding the formation of her creative voice.
Physical Attributes
At 90 years old, Gulzar is an unassuming personality. They don’t say much about his physical stature, as much emphasis has been placed on his thought process and his words in the subliminal minutiae of his being.
Net Worth & Legacy
Unlike other artists whose net worth is speculated, Gulzar’s financial details are often held private. Over a very long career, however, his income has come from songwriting, film direction, books, royalties, and appearances. The worth of his name, though, surpasses any figure limitation in contributing to poetry, cinema, and Indian culture.
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