Top 10 filmmakers out of job

We bring you some prominent names who seem to have disappeared from the scenario...

Shakti Samanta

Films as director: 43

Prominent hits: Howrah Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, An Evening In Paris, Aradhana, Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Anuraag, Amanush, Anurodh, Do Raaste, Anand Ashram and Mehbooba.

Career: If Rajendra Kumar was a jubilee star, Shakti Samanta was jubilee director. Almost all his films were either golden or silver jubilee hits. Samanta was also called the star maker having survived over two 'star phases' unscathed.

Shakti Samanta was among the directors who worked with Shammi Kapoor from the late 50s to mid 60s when he was a star. Kapoor was then ditched for Rajesh Khanna with whom he gave a number of hits. In fact they were so successful together that they hade launched a distribution office called Shakti Raj films.

After Rajesh Khanna's phase waned out, Samanta tried to latch on to Amitabh Bachchan with little or no success. He made Barsaat Ki Ek Raat and The Great Gambler. The latter, despite an excellent cast and story, failed to hit it at the box office.

Samanta is also credited for starting the trend of making double version films in Hindi and Bengali with Amanush (1974). The film was a big hit.

Last film as director: Geetanjali (1993) starring Jeetendra and Rekha in lead roles bombed miserably at the box office. With this failure, Shakti Samanta gave up direction. His son Ashim took over the reins but he failed to work his magic too. Disasters like Palay Khan, Aakhri Baazi, Ahankaar, Ankhon Mein Tum Ho followed one after another till he had to finally move to producing televisions serials.

Current status: Produced Don Muthuswamy with Mithun Chakraborthy playing the title role. Ashim directed the movie, which was critically panned and a box office failure. His distribution at Naaz and production office at Natraj Studios has been closed down

Ramesh Sippy

Films as director: 11 movies

Prominent hits: Andaaz, Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Shaan, Shakti and Saagar

Career: Ramesh Sippy worked for seven years as an assistant before turning director with Andaaz, which was a huge success. His second film Seeta Aur Geeta was also highly successful. But it was Sholay that actually changed everything for Sippy. The 1975 film went on to create history and won many accolades. But the success never was repeated. Sippy's following three films – Shaan, Shakti and Saagar managed to evoke just a lukewarm response.

Last film as director: Zamaana Deewana, which starred Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon, didn't fare well at the box office.

Current status: Even though he doesn't direct any more, Ramesh Sippy is into production. He has produced the three films – Kuch Naa Kaho and Bluffmaster and Taxi No 9211. He is also currently associated with Chandni Chowk To China.

Manoj Kumar

Films as director: 7

Prominent hits: Purab Aur Paschim, Shor, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan and Kranti

Career: Manoj Kumar was known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes. Quite like Samanta Manoj Kumar too was a jubilee director. However the serial success came to a sudden halt after Clerk failed to make money at the box office. All the ridiculousness apart, Clerk starred Manoj Kumar and Rekha… as… believe it or not… college students!

Last film as director: Jai Hind (1999) in which Manoj Kumar introduced his son Kunal Goswami. The film starred Rishi Kapoor and Raveena Tandon but was a big disaster. Manoj Kumar then had to shut down his production house.

Current status: Won a case against Shah Rukh Khan and got a defamatory clip removed during the airing of Om Shanti Om on national television. But besides that, Manoj Kumar is at home

Prakash Mehra

Films as director: 23

Prominent hits: Haseena Maan Jayengi, Mela, Zanjeer, Haath Ki Safai, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi.

Career: Known as the man who produced and directed Amitabh Bachchan's first big hit – Zanjeer, Prakash Mehra felt betrayed by the very same many years later. Mehra was also the first filmmaker to cast Feroz Khan and Sanjay Khan together in a film, Mela and went on to become a stupendous success.

After Zanjeer though he found a star in Amitabh Bachchan and the two worked together in quite many films. However years later he was to receive a jolt from Amitabh when he realised that the star was working in another film with a similar theme. That film was his competitor Manmohan Desai's Toofan. The two movies released within weeks of each other and spelled the end of Mehra's career.

Amitabh Bachchan is said to have visited Prakash Mehra once after Jaadugar. He spent two hours listening to Mehra's script and then turned down the offer. That was the last time they met.

Last film: Bal Brahmachari (1996) in which he introduced veteran actor Raaj Kumar's son Puru Raajkumar with Karisma Kapoor. The film was a big disaster at the box office.

Current status: Prakash Mehra is now retired. Today, a whole generation seems to have forgotten the prolific filmmaker. So much so that when his wife was in coma for almost a decade no one from the industry came to lend him a helping hand. Mehra spent all the money he had on her and also lost his health in the process

Rajkumar Kohli

Films as director: 17 movies

Prominent hits: Nagin, Muqabla, Jaani Dushman, Naukar Biwi Ka, Insaniyat Ke Dushman, Bees Saal Baad and Pati Patni Aur Tawaif.

Career: Rajkumar Kohli was famous for directing several popular films in the '70s and '80s with huge ensemble casts such as Nagin, which had Sunil Dutt, Feroz Khan, Sanjay Khan, Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, Kabir Bedi, Rekha, Reena Roy, Mumtaz, Yogeeta Bali, Anil Dhawan and Premnath. It was the biggest star cast ever to star in a film. Needless to say, the film became a super hit.

His other film Jaani Dushman also had a huge star cast including Sanjeev Kumar, Sunil Dutt,
Rekha, Shatrughan Sinha, Vinod Mehra, Jeetendra, Reena Roy, Neetu Singh, Aroona Irani, Madan Puri, Amrish Puri, Shakti Kapoor and Premnath.

In the early '90s he introduced his son Armaan Kohli in the multi-starrer action film Virodhi, which was a disaster. He directed his son again in Aulad Ke Dushman and Qahar, which also failed at the box office.

Last movie: In 2002 he relaunched his son in another multi-starrer film titled Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani. However when released it was a box office disaster and was heavily criticised for being one of the worst films ever made. He had to sell some his property to pay the money back to the financers.

Current status: At home desperately trying to make a comeback. He reportedly approached all the big stars who once acted with him. But everyone quoted a price he couldn't even dream of.

Rajiv Rai

Films as director: 7

Prominent hits: Yudh, Tridev, Vishwatma, Mohra and Gupt

Film career: Rajiv Rai made his debut as a director with Yudh, which was hit. He than went on to deliver several blockbuster films like Tridev, Vishwatma, Mohra and Gupt. His music was the highlight of all his films. In 1997, he had to flee India with his family for the United Kingdom after a failed attempt to kill him by hitmen believed to be working for Abu Salem.

After a few years of hiatus from Bollywood, Rai returned to directing with his comeback ventures Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat and Asambhav, both of which failed at the boxoffice.

Last movie: Asambhav (2004) starring Arjun Rampal and Naseerudin Shah, which was a disaster at the box office.

Current status: Living in the UK and plans to start a new film.

Raj Sippy

Films as director: 30

Prominent hits: Inkaar, Satte Pe Satta, Boxer, Baazi, Andar Bahaar, Loha and Thanedaar

Career: Raj Sippy made a successful debut as a director with Inkaar. The film starred Vinod Khanna and Amjad Khan a suspense thriller that became a diamond jubilee hit. He also gave another hit in Satte Pe Satta. This film went on to mint money and there was no stopping for this man.

Last movie: Jimmy, a delayed film starring Mithun's son Mimoh, which failed to work at the box office but is considered as the crappiest film to be made in the last one decade at least.

Current status: He is working on a film called The Murderer and also hopes to remake Inkaar and Satte Pe Satta.

B Subhash

Films as director: 16 movies

Prominent hits: Apna Khoon, Disco Dancer, Kasam Paida Karne Wali Ki, Tarzan, Dance Dance and Love Love Love.

Career: He was the man who made Mithun Chakraborthy a star overnight with Disco Dancer. The combination of B Subhash, Mithun and Bappi Lahiri went on to give more hits like Kasam Paida Karne Wali Ki, Tarzan, Dance Dance and Love Love Love.

Last film: Classic Dance Of India (2005). The film brought together the hit trio of B Subhash, Mithun and Bappi Lahiri. But unfortunately it was a biggest disaster.

Current status: He is presenting a movie called Jhoom – Dance With Me Again. The film stars all newcomers because apparently no big stars wanted to work with him. In fact even Mithun Chakarborthy refused to team up with him saying he was too busy with other projects.

Mehul Kumar

Films as director: 15

Prominent hits: Marte Dam Tak, Nafrat Ki Aandhi, Jungbaaz, Tiranga, Krantiveer and Kohraam

Career: Mehul Kumar is mostly recognised for his overtly patriotic film. Kumar has worked with some of the most noted film actors in Bollywood, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia, Madhuri Dixit, Naseeruddin Shah, Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor.

Last film: Jaago (2004) with Manoj Bajpai, Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Kapoor, which was a
disaster.

Current status: With no funds, Mehul Kumar has had no options but to wait and watch. One of his films starring Shawar Ali and Meghna Naidu has been in the cans for the longest time now but has found no buyers. He even claims to have a script ready but no one, including Nana Patekar, apparently doesn't has any intentions of working with him.

KC Bokadia

Films as director: 18 movies

Prominent hits: Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Teri Meherbaniyaan, Naseeb, Aaj Ka Arjun, Phool Bane Angaarey, Police Aur Mujrim and Lal Baadshah

Career: Before the release of Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Bokadia was not a known name. Not surprisingly he found no buyers. So he went ahead and released the film himself. Ever since, there hasn't been any looking back for this man.

Last film: Bold (2006) was a B-grade flick starring Shakti Kapoor, Prem Chopra and some actress called Tanvi Verma. That must have been quite a downer considering his previous film Lal Badshah starred Amitabh Bachchan. It's a different story that the Bachchan-starrer also failed miserably.

Current status: Bokadia has lost almost all his money in producing Govinda and Priyanka Chopra-starrer Aap Mere Hai Sanam and Sunny Deol-Tabu starrer Challenge. In fact Bokadia is in such dire straits that he is ready to sell out the film rights at throwaway rates. He is still looking for buyers and hopes to ride on Govinda's success after Partner

they all r great filmmakers i feel sad for them

wow, thats soo sad, especially for that mehra guy who's wife is in a coma for the past decade :(

Originally posted by: surkikhani

Prakash Mehra

After Zanjeer though he found a star in Amitabh Bachchan and the two worked together in quite many films. However years later he was to receive a jolt from Amitabh when he realised that the star was working in another film with a similar theme. That film was his competitor Manmohan Desai's Toofan. The two movies released within weeks of each other and spelled the end of Mehra's career.

Amitabh Bachchan is said to have visited Prakash Mehra once after Jaadugar. He spent two hours listening to Mehra's script and then turned down the offer. That was the last time they met.

I have seen quite a few of the films made by these directors and enjoyed them too. It's very sad when you read something like this and it just goes to show that the land of show business can be very cruel. It's great when you're at the top but once things go wrong, it becomes very lonely and people isolate you. I guess that's how it is is in life also.

Originally posted by: Maya_M

Very sad indeed. He is the guy who stopped Mr. Bachchan from boarding the train back to his hometown (when everyone rejected him) and instead made him a superstar and when Mr. Mehra needed help no one and not even Bachchan was there.

I have heard the same about Hrishikesh Mukherjee. He too gave Mr.Bachchan many hits but towards the end, Mr.Bachchan couldn't find any time to visit Mukherjee on his death bed or attend his funeral.

exactly Mr Bachchan should care for that person who care for him in tough time

all leading star should do something for these people
i feel v sad for them

I saw some of there films it is a shame but guess they make films for their time if you get what i mean and newer directors have new way of going about it...