Veteran lyricist, poet, author, screenwriter and director Gulzar has given the Indian film industry his own brand of cinema that is about human relationships entangled in social issues. The filmmaker, who started his career with music director S.D. Burman as a lyricist in the 1963 film Bandini and worked with many music directors including R. D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Vishal Bhardwaj and A. R. Rahman, went on to become India's most acclaimed all-rounder. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004, the third-highest civilian award in India, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in Indian cinema. He has won several Indian National Film Awards, 21 Filmfare Awards, one Academy Award and one Grammy Award.

Gulzar also gained recognition through his commendable direction. After writing dialogues and screenplay for films such as Aashirwad, Anand and Khamoshi, Gulzar directed his first film Mere Apne in 1971. He then directed films such as Aandhi and Mausam during the 1970s and the TV series Mirza Ghalib in the 1980s that were considered as his path breaking work. 

Today, on the legendary filmmaker's 86th birthday, here's looking back at his top 10 films that prove that his creativity is not just limited to lyrical compositions. 

Koshish - 1972

Considered as a landmark film in the world of Indian cinema, Gulzar's Koshish was a deeply moving tale about a deaf and mute couple's personal struggle and societal conflicts. Starring Jaya Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar, the film was an extremely sensitive take on the plight of differently-abled people.

Parichay - 1972

Gulzar's Parichay, starring Jeetendra and Jaya Bachchan in lead roles,  is still considered a classic in the family-romantic genre. It was a beautiful portrayal of how love and kindness can mend broken families. 

Aandhi - 1975

Aandhi was not just a political drama but also a romantic tale. Starring Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen in the lead roles, it presented a love story far ahead of its times, where feminism was as central to the theme as political ambitions. It was a brave attempt by Gulzar Sahab. 

Mausam - 1975

Mausam is the best example of Gulzar's authentic form of storytelling. Starring Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore, the film was the perfect combination of a great script and dynamic performances. The heartbreaking story of a man who wishes to improve the life of his former lover's child was praised for its simplicity because of Gulzar's directorial vision.

Namkeen - 1982

Starring Sharmila Tagore, Sanjeev Kumar, Shabana Azmi and Waheeda Rehman in the lead roles, this National Film Award-winning movie was a sensitive take on how women are 'supposed' to sacrifice to survive. This iconic film of Gulzar is still as relevant as it was years ago. 

Angoor - 1982

Inspired by Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, Angoor starred Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Verma in the lead roles and is considered as Bollywood's finest comedy. The seemingly simple plot of the film took an altogether extraordinary turn under Gulzar's proficient direction.

Ijaazat - 1987

With Ijaazat, Gulzar brought forth a story that was as revolutionary as it was realistic. The National Award winning movie, starring Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah, and Anuradha Patel, made an attempt to explore 'grey' characters, without binding them in a moral compass. 

Libaas - 1988

Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Raj Babbar, and Shabana Azmi, Libaas was based on Gulzar's short story Seema and explored the story of a woman sexually frustrated in her marriage and looking for an escape. The film also won international acclaim for being ahead of its time.

Maachis - 1996

Gulzar's political drama, starring Tabu, Jimmy Shergill and Chandrachur Singh, attempted to unearth the root cause of terrorism. Maachis is a story that is both personal and political at the same time. 

Hu Tu Tu - 1999

Gulzar's last directorial venture, Hu Tu Tu was a political drama that saw one of the finest performances by Tabu, Suniel Shetty and Nana Patekar. Exploring the concept of hate politics, Hu Tu Tu was devoid of the trademark romantic gaze that Gulzar lent to his movies. However, the honest treatment of corruption and politics did not go down well with the audience.