Prakash Jha is a renowned Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his socially and politically relevant films that have garnered widespread recognition and acclaim.
Born and raised in Bettiah, Bihar, India, Jha attended Sainik School Tilaya and later Ramjas College, Delhi University, where he worked as an assistant manager in a restaurant during his college days.
Inspired by his encounter with an art director during the shooting of the film Dharma (1973),Jha went on to enroll at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, Maharashtra, to study filmmaking.
Jha's early work includes the biographical film Sonal (1973) and the documentary Faces After the Storm (1981),which explored the communal riots of Bihar, India. Although the documentary was banned soon after its release, it received an award and gained international recognition.
In 1984, Jha made his directorial debut with the film Hip Hip Hurray (1984),which revolves around the lives of a group of high school students. The film was critically acclaimed and featured in the book 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed.
Jha founded a cultural society called Anubhooti in 1991, which focused on social issues like health care, disaster management, and upliftment of the poor.
His 2001 film Gangaajal (2003) marked a turning point in his career, featuring renowned actors like Ajay Devgn and Gracy Singh.
Throughout his career, Jha has received numerous awards and accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Damul (1985),the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for Apaharan (2005),and the Apsara Award for Best Dialogue for Aarakshan (2011).
Jha's films have also gained international recognition, with Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016) premiering at the Stockholm International Film Festival and Aparahan being the opening film at the Indian Film Festival in Israel.
In addition to his film career, Jha has been involved in Indian politics, joining the Janta Dal in the early 1990s and contesting the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 as a Janta Dal candidate from his hometown, Bettiah, in Bihar.
