One of the most successful filmmakers of Indian cinema, Raj Khosla was known for his versatility as a director, producer, and screenwriter. The king of suspense and mystery also introduced neo-noir elements to Indian films. He earned the reputation as a “women’s director” for his ability to showcase actresses at their best.
Early Life and Career
Raj Khosla was born on May 31, 1925, in Ludhiana, Punjab. He grew up in Rahon. Khosla was interested in music from a young age and was trained as a classical singer. In the beginning of his career, he worked briefly as a music staff member at All India Radio in Bombay. While working at All India Radio, he explored opportunities in the entertainment industry. He moved to Bombay with aspirations of becoming a playback singer.
When his dream of becoming a singer did not materialize, Khosla Guru Dutt became an assistant director. He was also very friendly with Dev Anand, who encouraged him to follow filmmaking. He worked on films like “Baazi (1951)” and “Jaal (1952)” as an assistant.
Debut and Breakthrough
In 1955, he made his directorial debut with “Milap,” starring Dev Anand and Geeta Bali. The film, with music by debutant composer N. Dutta, failed to make an impact at the box office. However, his second film, “C.I.D. (1956),” also starring Dev Anand, became a massive hit.
His second film was Dev Anand and Madhubala’s suspense thriller “Kala Pani (1958).” The film follows the quest of a son who wants to clear his father’s name, who was wrongly accused of a murder.
In 1960 he came up with “Bombai Ka Babu (1960),” a film way ahead of its time. The film starring Dev Anand and Suchitra Sen was a critical and comercial success. He continued his golden streak with “Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962),” starring Joy Mukherjee and Sadhana.
The Mystery Girl Triology
In 1964 he started his “mystery girl trilogy” with Sadhana in the lead. The first film of the series was “Woh Kaun Thi?”, a suspense classic. Sadhana stars as a mysterious woman haunting Dr. Anand, played by Manoj Kumar. Madan Mohan’s soundtrack, especially “Lag Ja Gale” and “Naina Barse,” sung by Lata Mangeshkar, remains iconic. The film’s narrative keeps viewers guessing with its twists and turns.
“Mera Saaya (1966)” continues Khosla’s suspense streak. Sadhana plays a dual role as Geeta and her lookalike, Raina. Sunil Dutt stars as a lawyer seeking the truth about his wife’s death. Madan Mohan’s music, with songs like “Mera Saya Sath Hoga”, “Aap Ke Pahloo Mein,” and “Jhumka Gira Re,” makes it even more iconic.
The last film of the series, “Anita,” came in 1969, where Sadhana again stars in a double role opposite Manoj Kumar. The film was not as successful as the previous movies, but it remains an important film in his career.
Raj Khosla – A Musical Mind
In 1966, he directed “Do Badan,” a musical tragedy starring Manoj Kumar and Asha Parekh. The film has some of the most haunting sad songs of Indian films, like “Naseeb Mein Jiske Jo Likha,” “Bhari Duniya Mein Aakhir”, “Raha Gardishon Mein”, and “Lo Aa Gayi Unki Yaad.”
He shifts to family drama with “Do Raaste (1969),” starring Balraj Sahni, Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, and Prem Chopra. The film tells the story of a family that was torn apart due to the overambition of its middle son. Khosla explores themes of duty and sacrifice. He used the KL Saigal song “Ik Bangla Bane Nyara” as a metaphor for the family patriarch’s wishes to make a loving home and also his heartbreak after his brother left the home.
Khosla again changed tracks and came up with Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), a dacoit drama. One of his most memorable films was “Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki,” an emotional rollercoaster ride. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Film, while Nutan got the award for Best Actress. Khosla also received the Best Director nomination.
Later Work
Khosla teams up with Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha for a tale of friendship and betrayal in “Dostana (1980).” They played best friends turned rivals over a misunderstanding. Zeenat Aman stars as the love interest, Sheetal.
Khosla directed 27 films over three decades, spanning genres like suspense, melodrama, and dacoit dramas. His films often featured strong narratives and memorable music. Some of his other films include Solva Saal (1958), Sharmilee (1971), Kuchhe Dhaage (1973), Prem Kahani (1975), Nehle Pe Dehla* (1976), Do Premee (1980), Dostana*(1980), Daasi (1981), Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon (1982), Mera Dost Mera Dushman (1984), Maati Maangey Khoon (1984), Sunny (1984) and Naqab (1989).
He did memorable work with Dev Anand, Manoj Kumar, and Rajesh Khanna. He mentored filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who later spoke of Khosla’s influence on his career. His collaboration with Guru Dutt as an assistant director shaped his early understanding of cinema.
Personal Life and Later Years
Khosla had daughters named Uma Khosla Kapoor, Sunita Khosla Bhalla, Anita Khosla Puri, Reena Khosla Kataria, and Sonia Khosla Vinaik. He also had a son out of wedlock, director Milind Luthria, whose mother was a cousin of Mahesh Bhatt. Milind was later adopted by Arjun Luthria, brother of actor Sudhir, and took his name.
Khosla passed away on June 9, 1991, in Bombay, at the age of 66, leaving behind a rich cinematic legacy. After his death, his daughter Sunita Khosla Bhalla established the Raj Khosla Foundation, with Shatrughan Sinha as chairman, to preserve his legacy.
Khosla’s diary, written in Urdu, provided insights into his life for a 2025 biography by Amborish Roychoudhury, co-authored with Khosla’s daughters. On his centenary, a retrospective “Raj Khosla 100 – Bambai Ka Babu” event was organised at Regal Cinema, Mumbai.
Raj Khosla on IMDB
