Director of Guru Dutt's blockbuster lost his home, had to sell off furniture after one of his films flopped

There’s no biz like showbiz. In such a volatile industry, where people can experience stratospheric success overnight, they may also find Lady Luck abandoning them all of a sudden. In a candid chat with his daughter, Pooja Bhatt, director Mahesh Bhatt reminisced about a once-much-in-demand director who had to watch his belongings being auctioned off.

During his early years, Bhatt lived at Union Park, which was then the residence of actor Emraan Hashmi and his grandmother. Right across from them stood the grand bungalow of filmmaker M. Sadiq, a man who had once enjoyed immense respect in the film fraternity. Bhatt remembered a day when the calm of this posh Mumbai neighborhood, famously known as Pali Hill—the Indian equivalent of Beverly Hills—was disrupted by unusual activity.

On that morning, Sadiq sat silently on a chair outside his house as workers carried his household furniture into the garden. The items were being prepared for an auction. His beautiful two-storey bungalow was being seized and sold because a film he had produced had failed so badly that it left him deep in debt. Creditors had attached his property, leaving the once-celebrated director humiliated in front of his peers and neighbors.

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A Lesson from His Mother

The 'Aashiqui' director recalled how he was engrossed by the happenings when his mother pulled him away and scolded him for standing there and treating someone’s misery like a spectacle. To shift his attention, she encouraged him to play with Sadiq’s son, Mehmood, who had stepped outside at that moment. Mahesh also joined Emraan’s father in the games. Though adults often assume children are unaware of such moments, Mahesh later reflected that even at that young age, he sensed the depth of Sadiq’s pain.

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Redemption Through Cinema

Despite this humiliating chapter, M. Sadiq eventually reclaimed his position in Indian cinema. He directed Chaudhvin Ka Chand, a timeless classic that restored his pride and secured his legacy. The film, which starred Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman in pivotal roles, became one of the defining works of the Muslim social genre, establishing him once again as a creative force to be reckoned with.

Who Was M. Sadiq?

M. Sadiq, whose full name was Mehmood Sadiq, was a distinguished director and writer of Indian cinema. Born on March 10, 1910, in Lahore, Punjab (then part of British India and now in Pakistan), he entered the world of films in 1935 as an assistant to renowned filmmaker A.R. Kardar. He contributed to several of Kardar’s projects, including Heer Ranjha (1932), Baghban (1938), Thokar (1939), and Holi (1940), often writing stories and dialogues in addition to assisting with direction.

His directorial debut came with Namaste (1943), starring Allauddin and Protima Dasgupta. The film was a commercial success, celebrated as a silver jubilee hit. His true breakthrough, however, arrived with Rattan (1944), featuring Swarnlata and Karan Dewan. This film became a phenomenal success at the box office and cemented his reputation. Its music, composed by Naushad, continues to be remembered, particularly the song “Akkhiyan Mila Ke Jiya Bharma Ke” sung by Zohrabai Ambalawali.

Building a Distinguished Career

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Sadiq directed several successful films, including Sham Savera (1946), Jag Biti (1946), Dak Bangla (1947), Kajal (1948), and Pardes (1950). In 1949, he established his own production banner, Sadiq Productions, under which he made films such as Sabak (1950), Saiyan (1951), Poonam (1952), and Shabaab (1954).

He also played a pivotal role in shaping careers in Indian cinema. Sadiq introduced the beloved comedian Johnny Walker, casting him in light-hearted films like Musafir Khana (1955), Chhoo Mantar (1956), Duniya Rang Rangeeli (1957), Mai Baap (1957), and Khota Paisa (1958). His versatility allowed him to move between comedy, romance, and socially driven narratives with ease.

Master of Muslim Socials

Sadiq became particularly acclaimed for directing films that portrayed the traditions and cultural richness of Muslim families in India. His masterpiece Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), starring Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman, remains a shining example of the genre. He went on to direct other notable works such as Taj Mahal (1963) with Pradeep Kumar and Bina Rai and Bahu Begum (1967) with Meena Kumari, Pradeep Kumar, and Ashok Kumar. He also created Noor Jehan (1967), a historical drama based on the life of the legendary Mughal empress.

Final Years and Legacy

In 1970, Sadiq migrated to Pakistan and began working on Baharo Phool Barsao (1972). Unfortunately, he passed away on October 3, 1971, before completing the project