Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 24: Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai took a nostalgic detour on Sunday, revisiting the early days of his cinematic journey by sharing the poster of his debut film Umang (1970), where he starred as one of the leads before transitioning into direction and production.

In a reflective Instagram post, Ghai described Umang as his “first major film” and credited the project — a musical produced by Guru Dutt Films and featuring music by Shankar–Jaikishan — for paving the way to several acting roles before he discovered his true calling behind the camera. “Amazing journey but hard work is the only key to success,” he noted, tagging his institutions Whistling Woods International and Mukta Arts.

Ghai, known for hits like Karz, Ram Lakhan, and Taal, also recently shared a heartfelt birthday post dedicated to his wife, Mukta (Rehana Farooqui), reflecting on their life together since meeting in Pune in 1965. Calling her the “real architect” of his life, he praised her for teaching him to handle crises with grace and dignity.

“A good wife and mother are the two real architects of your life,” he wrote. “We are a happy couple with two beautiful daughters… forever grateful.”

Subhash Ghai remains an iconic figure in Hindi cinema, especially for his contributions in the 1980s and 1990s, both as a storyteller and a mentor to future generations of filmmakers.