Director of photography, film director, screenwriter and producer. Born in Karachi after the partition in 1947, he moved from new Pakistan to India with his family. He graduated in cinematography in Bangalore in 1962. He started his career as director of photography on Hindi films in the early 1970s, often collaborating with director Shyam Benegal. From the 1980s he has worked as screenwriter and director, debuting with his Aakrosh (Cry of the Wounded, 1980). His first film determined his themes, dealing with social issues, urban crime and politics. He has often worked with actors Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah. He also worked as one of the cinematographers on Gandhi (1982) by Richard Attenborough. Then he made his own film Ardh Satya (1983) which received a Filmfare award for best director. It was also awarded for best film, as was Aghaat (1985) two years later. He raised controversy with his television miniseries Tamas (The Darkness, 1987) about the partition of Indian territory. This was followed by big screen films Rukmavati Ki Haveli (Rukvamati's Mansion, 1991), Droh Kaal (Times of Betrayal, 1994), Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), Thakshak (1999) and Dev (2004) which brought him another Filmfare award for best film according to the critics.