A popular director and producer of Hindi films, Harmesh Malhotra delivered some of the biggest hits of the 1970s and 1980s. Harmesh Malhotra, who was born in the Khusab region of what is now Pakistan, migrated with his family to Agra after Partition. He arrived in Bombay after finishing his education to try his luck in films and made his debut as director of the family melodrama Beti (1969) starring Nanda and Sanjay Khan. Through the 1970s he made films with stars like Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Vinod Khanna and Shashi Kapoor. Harmesh Malhotra’s breakthrough came with his direction and production of Nagina (1986), which was one of the most successful manifestations of the mythical ‘icchadhari’ snakes who dance to the tune of the snake charmer’s flute and ward off evil spirits. The film was a monstrous hit and cemented Sridevi’s place as the most successful female star of her generation.

Harmesh Malhotra worked with Sridevi on a few more projects, including Nigahen (1989), which was a sequel to Nagina, Sherni (1988), about a gypsy girl who becomes a dacoit to avenge the killing of her family by the evil Thakur (Kader Khan), and the reincarnation fantasy film Banjaran (1991).

Later he successfully collaborated with Govinda on Dulhe Raja (1998) about a small restaurateur who takes on a mighty five-star hotel owner, Kader Khan, and falls in love with his daughter, Raveena Tandon. The film is best remembered for the song “Akhiyon se goli mare” which would become the title of Malhotra’s next film as director and producer in 2002.

Harmesh Malhotra passed away in Mumbai of cardiac arrest on 22 November 2005. The last film he directed was Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen (2005).