Reliving the 90s through Mahesh Bhatt films Aashiqui, Sadak, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and more

Gumrah arrived in cinemas on 24 September 1993 as an action crime drama directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Produced by Yash Johar, the film starred Sridevi as a woman falsely accused of drug trafficking in Hong Kong, with Sanjay Dutt and Rahul Roy in key roles. The narrative followed her struggle to prove innocence after betrayal. Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal supported its tense and emotional storytelling.

Released in 1991, this romantic comedy was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Gulshan Kumar. It starred Aamir Khan opposite Pooja Bhatt in her first major leading role. The narrative drew inspiration from It Happened One Night, adapted for Hindi cinema sensibilities. Music by Nadeem Shravan supported the film’s humour and romance, while performances by Anupam Kher and Tiku Talsania added to its lasting popularity.

Released on 23 July 1990, Aashiqui was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Gulshan Kumar. Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal played the leads, with music by Nadeem Shravan becoming central to the film’s identity. The romantic musical drama emerged as a major commercial success and helped firmly establish its composers and playback voices with a huge nationwide audience. It later became the first entry in the long-running Aashiqui film series.

Chaahat was released on 21 June 1996 as a romantic action thriller directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Shah Rukh Khan starred opposite Pooja Bhatt, supported by Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher and Ramya Krishnan. The film was a remake of the Bengali title Aamar Shapath and featured music by Anu Malik. It explored themes of obsession and consequence, marking a darker turn within mainstream romantic storytelling during the mid nineties.

Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, Criminal was simultaneously made in Telugu and Hindi, starring Nagarjuna and Manisha Koirala, with Ramya Krishnan in a prominent role. The Hindi version was produced by Mukesh Bhatt, with music composed by M M Keeravani, credited as M M Kreem. The film blended romance with high-tension thriller elements, and its songs gained wide recognition across language versions, strengthening its cross-industry appeal.

Released on 7 May 1998, Duplicate was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Yash Johar under Dharma Productions. Shah Rukh Khan played a dual role, alongside Juhi Chawla and Sonali Bendre. The plot revolved around mistaken identity between an aspiring chef and a criminal lookalike, creating comic danger and action-driven set pieces. The film remains noted for Khan’s contrasting performances within a commercial entertainer framework.

Released in 1993, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Tahir Hussain. Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla led the cast in a warm romantic comedy inspired by the Hollywood film Houseboat. Child characters played an important role in shaping the story’s emotional tone. Music by Nadeem Shravan added charm, while Juhi Chawla’s performance earned major recognition and audience affection.

Naajayaz was released on 17 March 1995 as an action thriller directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Mukesh Bhatt. Ajay Devgn starred alongside Juhi Chawla and Naseeruddin Shah, with Deepak Tijori and Gulshan Grover in supporting roles. The film explored crime, morality and fractured family ties, blending personal conflict with underworld tension. Its performances and narrative intensity contributed to both commercial success and award recognition.

Sadak was released on 20 December 1991 as a romantic action thriller directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Mukesh Bhatt. Sanjay Dutt and Pooja Bhatt played the lead roles, supported by Deepak Tijori and Sadashiv Amrapurkar. The film combined romance with violence and redemption, backed by Nadeem Shravan’s popular music. It ranked among the highest-grossing films of its year and later inspired a sequel decades later.

Released on 9 July 1993, Sir was a crime drama directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Mukesh Bhatt. Atul Agnihotri appeared as a debutant lead opposite Pooja Bhatt, while Naseeruddin Shah played a central role, with Paresh Rawal among the antagonists. The story reworked elements from To Sir, with Love into an urban crime setting, blending romance, idealism and underworld pressures with music composed by Anu Malik.

Zakhm was released in 1998 as a drama written and directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Mahesh and Pooja Bhatt. Ajay Devgn led the cast alongside Pooja Bhatt and Sonali Bendre, with Nagarjuna and Kunal Khemu also featured. The film drew from personal inspiration, focusing on a mother-son relationship amid communal tension. It received national recognition for integration themes, while Devgn earned a National Award for his performance.