Nasir Hussain was the producer as well as the director of some of the most popular romantic musicals of the 1960s and 1970s. He was born on 3 February 1931 in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). He started his career as an assistant to A.R. Kardar and then joined "Filmistan" as a screenplay writer. His major credits as a writer include the Dev Anand"s hits Munimji and Paying Guest.

Nasir Hussain entertained the audiences with his genre of light romantic music in his films. Although, he never boasted about it but he helped launch the careers of a number of Bollywood`s brightest stars, like Asha Parekh, R. D. Burman, Shammi Kapoor, Mansoor Khan, Aamir Khan, Usha Khanna etc.

As a director, Nasir Hussain`s first film, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, starring Shammi Kapoor, heralded a new youthful musical genre. The film also proved to be Shammi Kapoor`s first hit. Nasir Hussain also produced films such as Teesri Manzil under the banner of Nasir Hussain Films, a film production company that was formed in 1960.

With an amazing sense of the viewers pulse, Nasir Hussain worked on Yaadon Ki Baraat which became a smash hit in 1970"s. Its rock-inspired musical score and the lost-and-found theme spawned countless imitations during the decade. Then he directed the film Hum Kisise Kum Nahin. This was another youthful film with extravagant musical numbers. He also acted in some famous Bollywood films like Ayee Milan Ki Bela (03 January 1964), Ganga Jamuna (01 January 1961), Devdas (01 January 1955).

In 1987, Nassir Hussain produced his son Mansoor Khan`s maiden directorial venture, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, as well as the subsequent Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Akele Hum Akele Tum. Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, incidentally, was the debut film of Hussain`s nephew, Aamir Khan.

Nassir Hussain directed such super hit films as Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho, Caravan, Yaadon Ki Baarat, and Hum Kisise Kam Nahin. He also produced such blockbusters as Teesri Manzil, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, which launched the careers of his son and nephew, Mansoon and Aamir Khan respectively.

Choice of Plot and Music by Nassir Hussain
Nasir Hussain had an ear for good melodies. Most of the films he directed or produced had really good music. Songs such as Tum sa Nnahin Dekha, Aaja aaja main hoon pyaar tera, Piya tu ab to aaja, Churaliya Hai Tumne jo Dil ko, Chand Mera Dil and there are many others are still well liked among Hindi music lover and will always be. What is extremely attractive to the audience about Hussein"s films is that he almost re-made the same film over and over again. But the new product always found a new flavour with the audience. In fact he even had a set of `items` that were repeated in film after film although in different combinations and permutations. The clash in the train sequence between Shammi Kapoor and Ameeta in Tumsa Nahin Dekha was repeated in Teesri Manzil with Shammi Kapoor again and Asha Parekh. Beating up the drummer Rocky from Dil Deke Dekho was repeated in Teesri Manzil. The Bhang song of Jab Pyar Kisi se Hota Hai was repeated in Hum Kissi se Kam Nahin and Manzil Manzil, even while maintaining the lost and found track throughout.

Perhaps this was the reason that Hussain was never taken seriously by film critics as a director of quality. But nothing could be further away from the truth. Nasir Hussain always kept up that it was more interesting to show the process of the hero and heroine falling in love run through the film rather than have the hero and heroine in love. It was that what makes his films special and attractive to the audience.

His films made the process of boy wooing girl and winning her over a most enjoyable affair. Hussein"s films, in fact, were a major influence on the films of Manmohan Desai, another filmmaker who thrived on the lost and found formula. With such a strong constituent of romance in his films it is but natural that his films were known for their excellent music. Each and every composer did some of their best work for him be it O.P. Nayyar (Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon), Shankar-Jaikishen (Jab Pyaar Kisi se Hota Hai), Usha Khanna (Dil Deke Dekho) and of course R.D. Burman who did all of Hussain`s films following Teesri Manzil (01 January 1966).

In fact The Nasir Hussain - R.D. Burman - Majrooh Sultanpuri team produced a musical history in Indian Cinema together through Teesri Manzil, Baharon ke Sapne, Pyaar ka Mausam, Caravan, Yaadon ki Baraat (1 January 1973), Hum Kisi se Kum Nahin and Zamane ko Dikhane Hai.

Nasir Hussain has been given several awards in recognition for his contribution to the film industry. These awards are:
* Filmfare Award Best Screenplay, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) * Filmfare Award for Best Movie, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) * Special Filmfare Award (1996)

A list of Nasir Hussain`s films will include the following: