SRINAGAR Besides being a filmmaker Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan is an actor of stage, Radio and Television who started his career back in 1988.
Born and brought up in Srinagar, Khan has acted in and has directed more than two dozen stage plays. He is one of the leading film makers of Kashmir and for the last more than three decades he has produced and directed more than 300 documentaries, tele films and episodes of serials. He also produced music albums for DD Kashir, DD Urdu, J&K Tourism.
An alumni of Kashmir University Khan has bagged numerous awards as well. Recalling his struggling days, Khan said: My struggle began from Kashmir itself. It was not easy to get the space in Radio, TV and Theatre in the beginning. In Radio, I cleared my audition in the third chance. In theatre, I was made to serve tea to my seniors and I never felt ashamed of it. Thats how I have grown up.
When asked about what kind of person he is, Khan replied with a smiling face, I am a simple human. I love music, photography, theatre and films. I am an artistic person. I want to be surrounded by art, peace, love and everything that gives me solace. Earlier, music was my first passion and after music it was acting. I acted extensively for Theatre, TV & Radio and enjoyed it. And later I started directing stage plays and TV films and TV serials. Now I love both of the professions.
Khan said that he had to leave the dream city because of the unavoidable circumstances. I was in Mumbai for two years. I acted in some serials. I had few meetings with film directors for few assignments but I couldnt make it as I didnt stay there for a long time due to some domestic issues at my home in Kashmir and I had to return back
He is the first film maker of the valley, who produced & directed documentaries for UGCs countrywide classroom through AVRC of Kashmir University.
He is the founder and director of Kashmir World Film Festival a first of its kind and magnitude in Kashmir. He is also working as Consultant with North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala at its Srinagar office. He is the Chairman of Actors Creative Theatre (ACT), an organisation, active in the field of Art, Culture, Film & Literature, since 1976.
Khan has been conducting film festivals, theatre festivals, theatre workshops, seminars, interactions, discussions and other functions on subjects like art, culture, film and literature involving hundreds and thousands of art loving people especially youth.
Khan was awarded senior fellowship in the field of folk theatre for a period of two years by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India (2009 – 2011).
Being into the profession of filmmaking, Khan asserted that the Bollywood has not explored many destinations in the valley. Whatever the reasons, I believe that the film industry has not explored the Valley properly. There are many beautiful places that I know personally, where they have not filmed so far and in contrary I will say that in Kashmir there is a saying that wherever you open your camera, you get a perfect frame
Explaining about Kashmir World Film Festival (KWFF) Khans latest venture, he said: From the past few years, I had a dream of holding a film festival in Kashmir. I was planning for more than a year and finally in 2017, I did it. The first edition of Kashmir World Film Festival was held in July 2017. In November 2017, we did its second edition and in June 2018 we returned for the 3rd one. Now, we are all set to host its 4th edition in November 2018, Khan said.
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