Gulshan Kumar Mehta, popularly known as Gulshan Bawra, was a popular Indian lyricist who has written over two hundred and forty songs during his long career in the Indian film industry. Starting in the 1950s, his association with Hindi films lasted for four decades, going on well into the 1990s. During this time, Bawra worked in a number of films such as Upkaar (1968) and Zanjeer (1974), both of which got him the Filmfare Awards for the Best Lyricist. Born in Sheikhupura in Lahore (present day Pakistan), Gulshan lost his parents during the riots that ensued during the post-independence Partition between India and Pakistan. He moved to Delhi and completed his education from the University of Delhi. While attending college, he began to write poetry. He nursed a dream of moving to Mumbai and joining the film industry. Gulshan applied for a clerical position in Mumbai and soon began looking for work within the industry. He got his first break by Kalyanji, of the Kalyanji-Anandji music composer duo, in the film, Chandrasena (1959) with the song ‘Main kya jaanu kahan laage yeh saawan matwala re.’ Later in the year, he wrote lyrics for Satta Bazar (1959) and the success of songs like ‘Tumhein yaad hoga kabhi hum mile the’ and ‘Chandi ke chand tukdon ke liye’ catapulted his career and he established himself as a lyricist and, with that Bawra finally quit his clerical job. Captivated by the eccentric attire of the young poet, film distributor Shantibhai Patel christened Gulshan Kumar Mehta as 'Bawra' (crazy). The name became his on and off screen identity within the Hindi film industry. In the years that followed, Bawra worked with a number of music composers like Kalyanji-Anandji, Shankar Jaikishan and R D Burman in films such as Khel Khel Mein (1975), Upkaar (1968), Zanjeer (1974), Kasme Vaade (1976) and Satte Pe Satta (1982). His most recent work was seen in Zulmi (1999). He also played acting roles in a few films, thus establishing a versatility of talent. Some of these films were Vishvaas (1966), Jaane-Anjaane (1971), Zanjeer (1973), and Aap Ke Deewane (1980).

He featured in the documentary Panchum Unmixed: Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai (2008), after which he died on 7 August, 2009, at the age of 72.