Gulzar: Meghna carved her own path

Legendary poet-lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar has spoken fondly about his daughter Meghna Gulzar's directorial debut, 'Filhaal,' released in 2002. He believes Meghna has unequivocally proven herself as an independent filmmaker, possessing a unique sensibility that he himself might not have brought to the project.

Gulzar noted that Meghna's approach to sensitive themes, such as surrogate motherhood, demonstrated a 'young aesthetic sense' and a 'gentle honesty' that resonated directly with a younger audience. He admired her ability to navigate delicate narratives without causing awkwardness.

He also clarified that while similarities are natural within a family, Meghna deliberately trained under filmmaker Saeed Mirza to forge her own identity. This training, including her role as chief assistant on 'Naseem,' allowed her to absorb filmmaking processes and mature as a director, absorbing influences from Mirza as much as from her father.

Gulzar further expressed admiration for Meghna's willingness to be critical of his work, recalling how she rejected some of his lyrics for 'Filhaal.' He views this as a sign of her strong independent mind and respects constructive criticism as vital for creative growth.