Noted writer and director Sagar Sarhadi passes away

Sagar Sarhadi, known for his dialogue and screenplays in love sagas like Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Silsila (1981), Faasle (1985) and Chandni (1989), among others passed away late last night due to heart attack. He even wrote the dialogue for Basu Bhattacharya’s Anubhav (with Kapil Kumar, 1972), Raj Kanwar’s Deewana (1992) and Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) but would forever be known for his association with Yash Chopra. 

He turned director with Bazaar (1982). Starring Farooq Shaikh, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah and Supriya Pathak, the film was reportedly based on a true story about Muslim girls in Hyderabad being forced to marry rich expatriates for money. The film had some soul-stirring music by Khayaam, with songs like Dikhayee diye yun, Karoge yaad to and Dekh lo aaj humko jee bharke being popular even now. It was considered one of the hallmarks of the neo-realistic cinema in India and despite its art film tag, was a commercial success as well. Unfortunately, despite the film’s success, Sahadi wasn’t able to carve a career as a filmmaker. He had planned a film called Tere Shaher Mein, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Deepti Naval and Marc Zuber, but the film couldn’t be made. Later projects, like his last project Chausar, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Amruta Subhash, couldn’t see the light of the day. He had set his heart out on making the sequel to Bazaar but couldn’t see his dream come true. 

The writer/filmmaker was born in Baffa, Pakistan on May 11, 1933. Like millions of others, he became a refugee after Partition. Destiny took him to Mumbai, where he lived in a small room with his elder brother’s family. He was of Marxist leanings and was interested in becoming an Urdu writer and poet. The need for financial security gravitated him towards films. After initial struggles, he became associated with Yash Chopra and the rest, as they say, is history. Sarhadi was said to be close to several women but he never married. He’s survived by his nephew, filmmaker and theatre personality Ramesh Talwar.
from filmfares