There have been so many talented people who have made important contributions to Indian cinema. And with my limited viewing - restricted to only Hindi/ Urdu films - I can hardly hope to make a fair list.
However, here are the 17 people I think have made an important contribution to Indian cinema as I know it.
Dadasaheb Phalke for his courage, tenacity, spirit of adventure and audacity, without which we Indians would not have begun making films when we did.
Saraswati Phalke, without whose support Dada Saheb Phalke would not have been able to do what he did. She learnt everything about filmmaking from him and thus became the second Indian to learn filmmaking.
Mehboob Khan, who started out as a canteen boy and went on to become one of India's most celebrated directors.
K Asif, one of my favourite filmmakers.
Once again, one of my favourite filmmakers: Guru Dutt.
Waman-Guru, editors who worked together as a team and like Mangeshji edited perhaps 80 per cent of all the Hindi movies we love. Both Mangesh Desai and Waman-Guru have made an immense contribution to Indian cinema.
Mangesh Desai, the brilliantly talented man who did the sound mixing, also known as re-recording, for perhaps 80 per cent of all our favourite Hindi movies.
Sahir Ludhianvi, one of my favourite lyricists.
As is Majhrooh Sultanpuri.
RD Burman, my favourite composer.
LV Prasad, a giant of a filmmaker from the south of India, whose contribution towards Indian cinema is immense, including building the infrastructure for filmmaking.
VK Murthy. He is one of my favourite cameramen. He shot Pyaasa.
Mohammed Rafi.
Kishore Kumar.
Lata Mangeshkar, for breathing life into so many performances of different actors with her renditions.
One of my favourite actresses, Nargis.
My favourite actor, Dilip Kumar.
As told to Upala KBR
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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