DEEPA MEHTA
Date of Birth: January 1, 1950
Born in India, Deepa Mehta received a degree in philosophy from the University of New Delhi. In 1973, Mehta moved to Canada when she married Canadian producer Paul Saltzman. She began her film career writing scripts for children's movies and documentaries, but it wasnât until 1991 that Mehta produced and directed her first feature film, Sam & Me, which won the Camera D'Or at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.
In 1992, she directed a one-hour episode of the ABC-TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles on location in Benares, India. In 1993, Mehta directed her second feature film, Camilla, starring Bridget Fonda and Jessica Tandy. She then directed the final episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in 1994 on location in Prague and Greece.
Mehta's third feature film, Fire (1996), was also her screenwriting debut. It won Most Popular Canadian Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Silver Rose for Best Feature at the Verona Love Screens Film Festival, the Audience Award at the L.A. Outfest and tied with Fly Away Home for the Air Canada Peopleâs Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. At the Chicago International Film Festival, it won two Silver Hugo Awards for Best Direction and Best Actress. In Mannheim, Fire won the Jury Award and in Paris, it was voted Favorite Foreign Film.
Earth (1998), based on Bapsi Sidhwa's critically acclaimed novel, Cracking India, is the second film in Mehta's trilogy of the elements, Fire, Earth and Water. It won the Prix Premiere du Public at the Festival du film asiatique de Deauville, France and the Critics' Award at Italy's Schermi d'Amore International Film Festival.
Her biggest success so far was the romantic comedy Bollywood/Hollywood (2002), which was nominated for five Genie awards (including Best Picture), winning Best Original Screenplay. Next up for Mehta was another romantic comedy, The Republic of Love (2004), starring Bruce Greenwood and based on a novel by the late Carol Shields. She has also filmed the last in her trilogy, Water (2004).
Mehta divides her time between Toronto and India. She is divorced but has a daughter, Devyani, with her ex-husband.
Filmography:
Exclusion (2009)
Heaven on Earth(2008)
Water(2005)
The Republic of Love(2004)
Bollywood/Hollywood(2002)
Earth(1998)
Fire(1996)
Camilla (1994)
Sam & Me (1991)
Martha, Ruth & Edie (1988)