Gulzar was born Sampooran Singh Kalra on August 18, 1934, in Dina, then part of undivided India and now in Pakistan. He later adopted the name Gulzar, under which he became one of India’s most influential literary and film personalities. (Image: News18 Hindi)

Before becoming a celebrated writer, Gulzar worked as a mechanic in Mumbai. His early years were far removed from the world of cinema, but his interest in literature and poetry eventually opened the door to a remarkable creative career. (Image: News18)

Gulzar’s journey as a film lyricist took shape in the 1960s. He wrote lyrics for Bandini, directed by Bimal Roy, beginning a long association with Hindi cinema. His distinctive poetic language soon became a defining feature of his work.
(Image: News18 Hindi)

Gulzar moved beyond songwriting and entered filmmaking as a director. His directorial work includes films such as Mere Apne, Koshish, Aandhi, Mausam and Angoor, earning him recognition for exploring complex human relationships and emotions. (Image: News18 Hindi)

Gulzar won an Academy Award for Best Original Song as lyricist for “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire. The song, composed by A.R. Rahman, won at the 81st Academy Awards in 2009. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The international success of “Jai Ho” continued at the Grammy Awards. Gulzar, A.R. Rahman and Tanvi Shah won the 2010 Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, adding another major global honour to his remarkable career. (Image: News18 Hindi)

Gulzar received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honour in cinema, for his contribution as a lyricist, director, screenwriter, producer and poet. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting records him as the recipient of the 45th Dadasaheb Phalke Award. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Gulzar’s creative identity extends far beyond films. He has written poetry, short stories and other literary works, often blending everyday emotions with deeply evocative language. His writing has helped make contemporary Hindi and Urdu poetry accessible to generations of readers. (Image: Firstpost)