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Amit Khanna

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For the fashion photographer, see Amit Khanna (photographer).

Amit Khanna
Born (1951-03-01) 1 March 1951 (age 73)[1]
Delhi, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Film producer, lyricist, author, media executive
Years active1971 - present
Known forFounder trustee of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image
Notable workGudia, Sardari Begum, Bhairavi
Parents
  • Jawaharlal Khanna (father)
  • Hem Khanna (mother)
Awards3 National Film Awards
Websiteamitkhanna.in

Amit Khanna is an Indian film producer, director, writer, and journalist. He was the founder chairman of Reliance Entertainment,[2][3][4][5][6] former president of the Producers Guild of India,[7] and the founder trustee of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] He is credited with having coined the term Bollywood.[17] Khanna has also won three National Film Awards as a producer and lyricist.[18][19]

Background

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He completed his higher education from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.[20] He has been involved with media since his school days at St. Columba's School, Delhi and has worked in theatre, radio, television, journalism, and films. Khanna began his career as an executive producer with actor-producer Dev Anand’s Navketan Films in 1971 and subsequently produced films such as Man Pasand, Sheeshay Ka Ghar and Shesh. He has also written over 400 film and non-film songs and several film scripts. He began actively working in television as a producer-director in the eighties and set up Plus Channel in 1990 which was India’s first entertainment conglomerate and the largest independent producer of TV programmes. He left Plus as its Managing Director to launch Reliance Entertainment. His other achievements include editing the magazines Tempus and Take-2 and writing in various magazines and newspapers. He has served on the Central Board of Film Certification and the Film Import Selection Committee, as a vice president of the Film Producers Guild of India and has been on the committees of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, Indian Music Industry and Film Federation of India. He helped found the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image.

Organisations

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Amit Khanna is the only permanent member of the Council of Management of the Producers Guild of India (the two others were V. Shantaram and Raj Kapoor). He has participated as a keynote speaker for Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), NASSCOM, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), and ECO, and served on over 50 international government committees and trade organizations and institutions.

Year Title Organisation Notes Ref
1981 EC member Film Federation of India (FFI) Apex body of the Indian film industry.
1982 Member Radio & TV Advertising Practitioners Association
1984 Member Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA)
1985-2000 Vice President Association of Motion Picture & TV Program Producers For 17 years.
1988-1990 Governing Council member Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
1988-1990 Film Import Selection Committee member Govt. of India
1989-2000 Managing Director & Group Editor PLUS Channel India’s first integrated media entertainment conglomerate.
1990-1994 Western Panel member Central Board of Film Certification
1990-1994 Appraisal Committee member Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India
1992-1995 Director DSJ Communications
1994-1996 Governing Council member Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata
1997-2000 Advisory group member Ministry of I&B, Govt. of India
1999 Export Forum member Ministry of I&B
1999-2000 Member Indian Broadcasting Foundation
1999-2003 Advisory board director Whistling Woods International film school, Mumbai
1999-2003 National EC member, Entertainment Committee FICCI
1999-2010 US-India Business Alliance
2000-2010 Chairman, Convergence Committee FICCI [21]
2000-2012 Media committee member US-India Business Council
2000-2015 Chairman Reliance Entertainment
2001 Member Indian Performing Rights Society
2001-2004 All India Film Producers Council
2001-2015 President Earth Communications Office India Association An environmental NGO.
2002 Member, Expert Group of GATS Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India
2005 Member, Prime Minister's Committee Information, Communication & Entertainment (ICE)
2005-2013 EC member National committee of Media & Entertainment, CII
2005-2015 Director Reliance Big TV
2005-2015 Director Reliance MediaWorks
Indo European Centre
Founder trustee Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image
Service Council member Forum d'Avignon, Paris
President Producers Guild of India For three terms.

Writings

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Presently retired from all film activities and organisational responsibilities, Amit Khanna devotes all his time solely to writing.

Year Title Book /newspaper /mag Notes Ref
1969-1971 Editor Tempus Monthly magazine
1982 Editor & features writer Take 2 Entertainment weekly
1987-1989 Editorial Advisor Probe India
1990-1992 Business Plus Video news magazine
1990-1992 People Plus Video news magazine
1990-1992 Bollywood Plus Video news magazine
1990-2000 Syndicate features writer Plus Newsbank
1995-1997 Online Singapore
1998-2015 Features writer Outlook [22]
1993–1997 Syndicated columnist (various national dailies) Column name: Media Musing
1997-2000 Editorial Adviser The Economic Times
1999-2000 Columnist The Economic Times Column name: Enterprise
2002-2010 Columnist Business Standard Column name: Freeze Frame [23]
Jan 2013 Author Anant Raag (Infinite Verse) Anthology of poetry, published by HarperCollins
Dec 2019 Author Words Sounds Images: History of Media and Entertainment in India Publisher: HarperCollins [24][25][26][27]
2017–present Columnist The Wire [28]
2018–present Columnist Open [29]
2018–present Columnist Bloomberg Quint [30]
Co-author Encyclopedia of Bollywood Publisher: Encyclopædia Britannica [3]
The Times of India
Hindustan Times
DNA
Features writer The Illustrated Weekly of India
Features writer India Today
Features writer Filmfare
Features writer Show Time
Features writer Super Cinema

Filmography

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Khanna started his film career as executive producer with Dev Anand's Navketan Films in 1971. In 1989 Khanna helped set up Plus Channel,[31] a television programming house, and joined it as managing director and Group Editor. Under his tenure, the organization expanded its role to produce movies and music, and provide event management services. Several films created under the Plus Films banner went on to win National Film Awards. In 1996 Khanna won two awards as film producer at the 44th National Film Awards: Best Feature Film in Hindi for Gudia and Best Feature Film in Urdu for Sardari Begum. Plus Channel produced India's earliest audio books in both prose and verse. It also pioneered business news shows on Indian television.

In 2000 Khanna resigned from Plus Channel to join Reliance Entertainment where he served as chairman for 15 years. Under his guidance, Reliance Entertainment became a major player in Hollywood.[32][33][34] In May 2008 the company signed deals to produce and develop movies with prominent Hollywood actors such as Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jim Carrey and Nicolas Cage. In September 2008 Reliance Entertainment formed a joint venture with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks SKG named DreamWorks Studios via an equity investment of $325 million. In August 2009 Reliance Entertainment signed an $825 million production and distribution deal with DreamWorks Studios.

Films

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Year Title Role Notes References
1973 Shareef Budmaash Executive producer
Heera Panna production executive
1974 Ishq Ishq Ishq Executive producer
1976 Bullet Business executive and production controller
Chalte Chalte Lyricist
Jaaneman Business executive and production controller
1977 Swami Lyricist
1978 Des Pardes Executive producer and lyricist
1980 Man Pasand Producer and lyricist
Lootmaar Executive producer
Saboot Lyricist, EP and lyricist
Guest House Lyricist
1982 Shiv Charan Lyricist
Star Lyricist
1984 Sheeshay Ka Ghar Director, writer
Saaransh Dialogue
Purana Mandir Lyricist
1986 Aashiana Director
Avinash Lyricist
1988 Shesh Director
1990 Awwal Number Lyricist
1994 1942: A Love Story Script consultant
1996 Aur Ek Prem Kahani Producer
Bhairavi Producer
Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin Executive producer
Laalchee Producer
Sardari Begum Executive producer
Papa Kahte Hain Producer
1997 Do Rahain Producer
Gudgudee Executive producer
Saaz Producer
Gudia Producer
Agnichakra Lyricist
Chakkar Pe Chakkar Story
2007 Hattrick Lyricist
2010 Malik Ek Lyricist

TV series

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Year Title Role Notes References
1986 Buniyaad Executive producer
Chhapte Chhapte Executive producer
Apne Aap Executive producer
1995 A Mouthful of Sky Producer India's first English soap opera
Zameen Aasmaan Producer
1995-97 Swabhimaan Producer Episodes #1.1 to 1.498
1996 Badalte Rishte Producer
Mumkin Producer
1997 Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh Producer
Paltan Producer
Kabhie Kabhie Producer
Sab Golmaal Hai Producer

As a lyricist he has penned over 200 Hindi film songs, working mainly with music directors like Bappi Lahiri, Rajesh Roshan and Laxmikant–Pyarelal. He also composed lyrics for around 200 songs released in music albums by singers Nazia and Zoheb Hassan, Sharon Prabhakar, Salma Agha, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mahendra Kapoor and Shafqat Ali Khan. In 1984 he directed three music videos for Nazia Hassan's music album Young Tarang. He was the lyricist for the opening theme song of ten Indian television series, including Buniyaad (1986), Dekh Bhai Dekh (1993) and Swabhimaan (1995).

Other

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Year Title Role Programme /episode References
1985 Young Tarang Director TV show Rock music
1996 Century of Cinema Self Docu 'And the Show Goes On: Indian Chapter'

Awards and honours

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Time, Newsweek, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have mentioned him as one of the global leaders of film and television. He has been a guest lecturer at New York University and the University of Southern California. He was on the selection panel of the Indian Panorama (Western region) thrice (1985, 1989, and 1993). and was the first Indian to serve on the International Emmys jury.

Year Award Organiser /festival Notes Ref
1976 Uttar Pradesh Film Journalist Association Award UP Film Journalist Association
1979 Cinegoers Award
1980 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award Bengal Film Journalists Association
1981 Uttar Pradesh Film Journalist Association Award UP Film Journalist Association
1986 Lions Club Award Lions Club
1987 Lifetime Achievement Award for Television Uptron
1995 Leadership Award Indian Film Festival of Houston
1996 National Film Award - Best Lyrics Govt. of India For Bhairavi
1996 National Film Award - Best Hindi Film Govt. of India For Gudia
1997 National Film Award - Best Urdu Film Govt. of India For Sardari Begum
1997 TV Personality of the Year Award Time magazine
2010 Leadership Award Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)
2010 Masterbrand Lifetime Achievement Award CMO Council
2015 Lifetime Achievement award for contribution to film and television Norway Bollywood Festival
2017 Film Critics Council Lifetime Award
2017 PR Council of India Lifetime

References

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  1. ^ Bhushan, Ravi (1995). Reference India: Volume 3. Rifacimento International.
  2. ^ Shackleton, Liz (6 September 2010). "Big's global ambition". Screen Daily. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. 2003. p. xvii. ISBN 8179910660.
  4. ^ "After 43 years of work, Amit Khanna says enough". Afaqs. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  5. ^ Lalwani, Vickey (29 October 2013). "To stop the flops, Reliance recalls former chairman". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  6. ^ Bhushan, Nyay (14 October 2011). "Moneyball Opens Week-Long Mumbai Film Festival". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. ^ Presidents. producersguildindia.com.
  8. ^ Bhushan, Nyay (17 September 2014). "Catherine Deneuve to Get Mumbai Film Festival Lifetime Honor". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  9. ^ Lall, Bhuvan (28 November 2001). "Mumbai festival extended by popular demand". Screen Daily. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  10. ^ Chopra, Anupama (24 November 1997). "Mumbai Academy of Moving Image organises India's first annual Festival of Film". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  11. ^ "MAMI – a retrospective". The Big Indian Picture. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Mumbai Film Fest to honour Waheeda Rehman". Hindustan Times. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  13. ^ "MFF to honour Helen, Catherine Deneuve with lifetime award". Zee News. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Anurag Kashyap, Kiran Rao Garner Support For Mumbai Film Festival". NDTV. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Mumbai gears up for MAMI". Mumbai Mirror. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  16. ^ Priyakshi, Prerana (19 October 2013). "Nandita Das Inaugurates Mumbai Film Mart". IB Times. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  17. ^ Dey, Simantini (21 December 2019). "'When Sr Bachchan Angrily Asked...': The Man Who Gave 'Bollywood' its Name Shares How Indian Media Became a Brand". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  18. ^ "43rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  19. ^ "44th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  20. ^ "High achievers". St. Columbia Alumni Association. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012.
  21. ^ Athique, Adrian; Parthasarathi, Vibodh; S.V. Srinivas (2017). The Indian Media Economy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199091782.
  22. ^ "Articles by Amit Khanna". outlookindia.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  23. ^ Khanna, Amit (28 January 2013). "Amit Khanna: Blockbuster times". Business Standard. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  24. ^ Parasuraman, Prathyush (5 February 2020). "5 Things We Learned From Amit Khanna's 900-page Entertainment Encyclopedia". Film Companion. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  25. ^ Sengupta, Amit (12 January 2020). "A short history of entertainment". The Tribune. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  26. ^ Bamzai, Kaveree (14 February 2020). "Scene by scene". Open. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  27. ^ Deepak, Sukant (13 December 2019). "Government must get out of business: Amit Khanna". IANS. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Amit Khanna". The Wire. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Amit Khanna". Open The Magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Amit Khanna". BloombergQuint. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  31. ^ Ganti, Tejaswini (2012). Producing Bollywood: Inside the Contemporary Hindi Film Industry. Duke University Press. p. 261. ISBN 978-0822352136.
  32. ^ "Reliance BIG Entertainment Builds Its Creative Partnerships". Reliance Entertainment. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  33. ^ "India's Reliance Entertainment in Hollywood deal". Reuters. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  34. ^ J, Preethi (17 July 2009). "Reliance ADAG Infuses $325M Into Dreamworks; First Movie In 2010; IPO?". Medianama. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
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