Mahesh Bhatt recalls the great advice by filmmaker Raj Khosla: Zero is a great figure
Mumbai, June 15
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt recalled the great advice he received from legendary filmmaker Raj Khosla, which stayed with him over the years.
Stressing the importance of how starting from nothing should be seen as an advantage and not a disadvantage, the 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh' maker had told Bhatt, "Zero is a great figure to begin with."
Khosla had pointed out that starting from nothing should never be viewed as a disadvantage. On the contrary, it should be seen as the foundation upon which every meaningful journey can be built.
Speaking to author, screenwriter, and director Suhrita Das at the special event "In Search of Truth", Bhatt also reflected on his rebellious childhood.
Bhatt said that during his younger days, all he wanted was to stand apart from everyone else, but age and experience eventually made him realize the importance of belonging and connecting with others.
"I wanted to stand out when I was young. Today, I want to connect," Bhatt shared.
The 'Arth' maker also revisited a fond memory from his childhood with his mother. He shared that he used to place fireflies in his mother's hair in an attempt to bring a smile to her face during a difficult moment.
Putting forth his views on creativity, Bhatt observed that great art is often a result of emotional vulnerability and heartbreak. He said that the greatest resource for an artist is not his technical skill, but having the courage to engage honestly with life.
During the heartfelt conversation, Bhatt urged all to fully embrace the moment present in front of them instead of waiting for a milestone to be happy.
"We spend our lives waiting. Waiting for success, waiting for certainty, waiting for the next achievement. But life is not somewhere ahead. Life is here, in this breath, in this conversation, in this moment," he concluded.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I love how Bhatt sir went from wanting to stand out to wanting to connect. That's the journey of life, isn't it? In our twenties, we all want to be unique and rebellious. But as we grow older, we realize that true happiness comes from relationships and belonging. This is a lesson many of us in India need to learn – we run so hard for success that we forget to connect with our parents, friends, and even ourselves.
Mahesh Bhatt always speaks from the heart. The part about creative vulnerability is so true – many artists in India today focus too much on technical perfection (like VFX or fancy shots) but forget that honest emotion is what actually connects with audiences. Look at those old Raj Khosla films – they had soul, not just slick production. Great reminder that real art comes from being brave enough to be vulnerable. 👏
I have mixed feelings about Bhatt. His films are iconic, but his personal life has been controversial. That said, his insights on life and art here are genuinely profound. "Life is here, in this breath" – such a simple but powerful reminder. We spend so much time waiting for the next big thing (the next promotion, the next car, the next holiday) that we miss the present moment. This is a universal truth, not just for Indians but for everyone.
Bhatt sahab ki baat sach hai. "Zero is a great figure" – reminds me of how many successful entrepreneurs in India started with nothing. Look at the chai wallahs who built empires or the small-town kids who made it in Bollywood. Khosla's advice is timeless. The firefly story with his mother was also very touching – such a pure childhood memory. Wish we had more such heartfelt conversations in today's noisy world.
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