Rahat Kazmi

Rahat Kazmi was born at a small village called Pamrote, a town Surankote district Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir state of Indian side on 23rd July 1980. He belongs to a family of sufi poets and spiritual personalities in the state. His grandfather (mother's father) late Walayat Ali Shah Bukhari was a sufi poet, a spiritual personality and a great socialist. Rahat started writing poetry in his grandfather's guidance and the later stared writing stories also. Rahat's flair for Urdu poetry and storytelling brought him in film line. Rahat started his career by writing and directing for local doordarshan channel of Jammu and later he shifted to Mumbai and started a serial "Tamanna" in 2002-3 for DD Metro Later Rahat joined ETV Urdu channel and worked as in house director for almost three years and directed almost 300 episodes of different programmes for ETV URDU channel. Rahat Kazmi started his film career as writer and director with his debut feature film title "DEKH RE DEKH" (2009). The film got stuck into title controversy at the time of release and due to stay on release from court it could not release properly. Later Rahat started his in house production banner by the name of Rahat Kazmi Films and produced & directed first feature film as producer tiled IDENTITY CARD ek lifeline (2014). The film (Released in India, Canada and Africa 2014) - a realistic drama based on real incidents of Kashmir and touching history of Kashmir and ideological differences of people. Starring Tia Bajpai, Saurabh Shukla, Raghubir Yadav, Vipin Sharma, Brijendra Kala, Furqan Merchant, Prashaant Kumar and Shoib Kazmi (now known as Shoib Nikash Shah). Film won 3 award at THE SAN FRANCISCO GLOBAL MOVIE FEST (AMERICA) including BEST DIRECTOR, BEST FILM & BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. Rahat's second film RABBI (India Premiere at Rajasthan International Film Festival 2015) a film on differences on account of music and Islam, a hard hitting film on ideologies, religion, myths and reality. Starring- Raghubir Yadav, Dolly Ahluwalia, Virendra saxena, Brijendra Kala, Pooja Gupta, Bidita Baug, Furqan Merchant and Shoib Kazmi. Rahat completed MANTOSTAAN (MANTO'S WORLD) IN 2016 and its World Premiere was held at Cannes Film Festival 2016. Based on four stories of most celebrated Urdu writer Saadat Hassan Manto. The film opened at Cannes film festival 2016. AWARDS & ACCLAMATIONS: Rahat was awarded as BEST DIRECTOR (Asian Panorama) FESTIVAL OF GLOBE SAN FRANCISCO 2014 for IDENTITY CARD. IDENTITY CARD was OPENING FILM and also awarded with BEST FILM & BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AWARDS: FESTIVAL OF GLOBE SAN FRANCISCO 2014, BEST FILM at RAJASTHAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2014 apart from being closing night film of the festival. IDENTITY CARD was quoted as one of the bravest film from India by THE TELEGRAPH (ASIAN IMAGES), parts of the film were shown in European parliament in 2015 while discussing Kashmir issue on international front. Again Rahat was awarded as best director critics award at RAJASTHAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2015 for RABBI (Film won 4 awards including best actor critics, best supporting actor and best supporting actor critics). Rahat's sensitive feature based on the stories of most celebrated and controversial writer Saadat Hassan Manto titled MANTOSTAAN Reviewed as one of the finest Asian Film by DESIBLITZ UK Rahat Kazmi is married to Asiya Kazmi and has two kids Aamir Kazmi and Selsabeel Kazmi. His father Jameel Hussain Shah is a Govt. Contractor and a political leader, his mother Shabeena Nasreen serves in police department of Jammu and Kashmir. Rahat's siblings are Shoib Nikash Shah an actor by profession and youngest brother Shahid Kazmi who is a film director and writer. Rahat Kazmi has one sister Sonia Kazmi who is in the field of medical science.