Biography
Shah studied direction at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and he developed an interest in the comedy genre.
His directional debut was the comedy film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (aka Who Pays the Piper) in 1983. He also took part in the writing of the film, along with Satish Kaushik. The film introduced a new kind of slapstick comedy into the Indian cinema for the first time and was well recognized.
Shah then started to work in television. He was one of the directors of the popular sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, which started telecast in August 1984. He became a partner of Iskra, a company founded by Saeed Akhtar Mirza, Aziz Mirza and others. In 1985-1986 he directed the TV series Nukkad (street) along with Saeed Akhtar Mirza. The serial was another folk comedy dealing with the routine life of street youngsters.
After directing several serials, Shah took a long break of 7 years from cinema.
Shah made his comeback to cinema in 1993. He directed the famous Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and wrote the screenplay for the film. The film was another comic love story but it also displayed new aspects to its credit - it was the first time that the hero in the film was an absolute loser. The film starred Shahrukh Khan in one of his first roles. The film was much acclaimed and both Shah and Khan were appreciated for their work. In 1994, Shah won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie for the film. He was the first filmmaker to win this award.
In 1998, Shah directed another acclaimed film, Kya Kehna. Due to delay, the film released in 2000 and became the surprise hit of the year. The film dealt with a social controversial issue - single parenthood. Actress Preity Zinta debuted in this film and enacted the lead role of a teenage single-mother who tries to overcome the wrong values of her society. Zinta's performance was also acclaimed. The film also starred Saif Ali Khan and Chandrachur Singh.
Shah's next releases were Hum To Mohabbat Karega (2000) starring Bobby Deol and Karisma Kapoor, Dil Hai Tumhara (2002) with Rekha and Preity Zinta, and the last one, Ek Se Badhkar Ek in 2004.
Read more about this topic: Kundan Shah
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