Filmmaker Umesh Mehra wins Lifetime Achievement Award at Tashkent International Film Festival

Veteran filmmaker Umesh Mehra who directed Akshay Kumar in three Bollywood hits ‘Sabse Bada Khiladi’, ‘Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi and ‘International Khiladi’ has just won a prestigious award at this year’s Tashkent International Film Festival. The acclaimed filmmaker received a special Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the development of world cinema.
In his acceptance speech, an extremely humble Umesh said, “It’s been a long journey. It started in the 1970s with the film called ‘Alibaba Aur 40 Chor’ and continued to many more for almost 40 years. I had the privilege of working with so many acclaimed directors. I would like to thank you for the honour. I also congratulate all these young filmmakers. You are exactly where I was in the initial days of my career. I hope you all achieve great great heights. God bless you.”
Besides Umesh Mehra, Turkish director and screenwriter Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov, Kyrgyz actress Aytugan Temirova and Tajik director Sairam Isaeva also received the special award.
The acclaimed filmmaker who has been a pioneer of coloration between India and Tashkent shot three films there - 'Sohni Mahiwal' starring Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon, 'Shikari' with Mithun Chakraborty and Naseeruddin shah and 'Yeh Mohabbat hai', featuring Arbaaz Khan and Nasir Khan. Interestingly, all of these three films had Gulshan Grover in pivotal roles.

Meanwhile, more than 300 cinematographers from 50 countries across the world were part of the film festival, which kicked off in Tashkent on September 29.