OdessaProsser28 at 16:12, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T16:12:11Z

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{{Short description|Indian cinematographer}}
{{for-multi|the Indian politician|Anil Mehta (politician)|the Marathi publisher|Mehta Publishing House}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox person
| pre-nominals =
| name = Anil Mehta
| image =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[India]]
| alma_mater = [[Film and Television Institute of India|FTII]]
| occupation = {{Hlist|Cinematographer|film director|screenwriter}}
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Anil Mehta''' is an [[Indian cinematographers|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).<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Anil studied cinematography at the [[Film and Television Institute of India]], Pune in 1986.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>

==Career==
Anil initially assisted director [[Ketan Mehta]] and cinematographer [[Jehangir Choudhary]] on [[Holi (1984 film)|''Holi'']] (1984) and ''[[Mirch Masala]]'' (1987), while he was a student and went on to assist [[Barun Mukherji (cinematographer)|Barun Mukherjee]] on television commercials.<ref name=":2">{{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}}</ref>

He debuted as a cinematographer on a short Indo-German [[drama film]], ''[[The Cloud Door]]'' (1994). His first full-length film was ''[[Khamoshi: The Musical]]'' (1996), which was also [[Sanjay Leela Bhansali|Sanjay Leela Bhansali's]] directorial debut.<ref name=":2" />

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== 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 film)|''Rockstar'']] (2011), [[Cocktail (2012 film)|''Cocktail'']] (2012), ''[[Highway (2014 Hindi film)|Highway]]'' (2014) and ''[[Ae Dil Hai Mushkil]]'' (2016).<ref name=":0" />

Mehta's first feature film, ''[[Aaja Nachle]]'', was produced by [[Yash Raj Films]] which released on 30 November 2007.<ref name="Release date">{{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}}</ref> the film stars [[Madhuri Dixit]] (her comeback film), [[Konkona Sen Sharma]], [[Akshaye Khanna]] and [[Kunal Kapoor (actor, born 1977)|Kunal Kapoor]].<ref name="Aaja Nachle">{{cite web|title=Oneindia |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 }}</ref>

== 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 (film)|Saathiya]]''
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Kal Ho Naa Ho]]''
|
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Veer-Zaara]]''
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna]]''
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Marigold (2007 film)|Marigold]]''
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Wake Up Sid]]''
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Rockstar (2011 film)|Rockstar]]''
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
| ''[[Cocktail (2012 film)|Cocktail]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Jab Tak Hai Jaan]]''
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2014
|''[[Highway (2014 Hindi film)|Highway]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Finding Fanny]]''
| Hindi<br>English
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2015
| ''[[Badlapur (film)|Badlapur]]''
| rowspan="13" | Hindi
|
|-
| ''[[Shaandaar (2015 film)|Shaandaar]]''
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Ae Dil Hai Mushkil]]''
|
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Secret Superstar]]''
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2018
| ''[[Beyond the Clouds (2017 film)|Beyond the Clouds]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Sui Dhaaga]]''
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Angrezi Medium]]''
|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar]]''
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2022
| ''[[Jersey (2021 film)|Jersey]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Darlings (film)|Darlings]]''
|
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Thank You for Coming]]''
|
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri]]''
|
|-
| 2026
| ''[[Ikkis]]''
|
|-
|}

=== Writer ===
* ''[[Agni Varsha]]'' (2002)

=== Director ===
* ''[[Aaja Nachle]]'' (2007)
* ''Feelin'' (2011)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0576540|name=Anil Mehta}}
* [http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/nov/28anil.htm Interview by Rediff]

{{National Film Award Best Cinematography}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehta, Anil}}
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni]]
[[Category:Hindi film cinematographers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Best Cinematography National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

{{cinematographer-stub}}

Anil Mehta - Revision history

OdessaProsser28 at 16:12, 27 March 2026