Arvind Laad

Cinematographer Arvind Laad worked in both Marathi and Hindi cinema. He cinematographed several crime actioners as well as family dramas, among other films. He is known for Hindi films such as Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961), Agent Vinod (1977), Baaghi: A Rebel For Love (1990), and 100 Days (1991), among others, as well as Marathi films Sadhi Manse (1965), Bara Varshe 6 Mahine 3 Diwas (1967), and Ekati (1968). He also directed the Marathi film Hicha Kay Chukla (1985).

Born in 1937, he made his debut as cinematographer in 1961 with Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan. The story of this family drama revolved around Geeta (Meena Kumari) who is married to Shyam (Balraj Sahni) but is unable to bear children. She also looks after her younger brother-in-law, Mohan (Sailesh Kumar). Things start to change when Mohan marries Prabha (Seema Deo), who hails from a wealthy family and is influenced by her dominating mom (Durga Khote). Misunderstandings ensue to such an extent that Prabha moves out of her home, and back to her mother’s house. 

Vishnu Puran (1973), which he cinematographed was a mythological revolving around a beautiful Gandharva kanya who invites the wrath of Gandharav Raj Ambuj when she decides to take the advice of Devi Maa Gauri and marry a manav, Dharamketu. Ambuj soon humiliates and blinds Dharamketu, and the only way he can regain his sight is by listening to Vishnu Puran, and how Bhagwan Shri Vishnu came to Earth in the past nine avatars and the future avatar of Kalki. 

Laad proved his versatility when he went on to cinematograph the action crime drama Agent Vinod, directed by Deepak Bahry. Starring Mahendra Sandhu, Asha Sachdev, and Iftekhar, it revolved around a secret agent, who is assigned the task of locating an abducted citizen. 

It was followed by Assignment Bombay (1978), again directed by Deepak Bahry. Starring Helen, Jagdeep, and Asha Sachdev, this actioner produced by Tarachand Barjatya, had stunts by Veeru Devgan.

He went on to cinematograph Guru Ho Jaa Shuru (1979), an action crime drama, directed by Shiv Kumar. It starred Ashok Kumar, Mahendra Sandhu and Prema Narayan. The film depicted an escaped convict who blows up a train to extract vengeance against the CBI inspector who arrested him. 

The 1980 Manokaamnaa saw him serve as director of photography for this drama romance directed by Kedar Kapoor. It starred Raj Kiran, Urmila Bhatt, Shail Chaturvedi, and Kalpana Iyer. The film told the story of Gauri, a joyful young girl living in a snow-clad village of the Himalayas. The district forest officer of their village retires and his position is taken by a much younger officer, Vikas Kashyap. She falls in love with Vikas and is convinced that he, too, is in love with her. She is unaware that Vikas is in love with London-based Sonia, and their marriage will soon be finalised.

In 1982, he cinematographed the action crime drama titled Ustadi Ustad Se, directed by Deepak Bahry. It told the story of young Seema (Sweety) who lives a middle-class lifestyle with her grandmother and maternal uncle, Kamdev. She is friendly with Rajesh; another young boy, Sanjay, also wants to be her friend, but she rejects him. When the region is devastated by floods, she is separated from Rajesh. Years later, a grown-up Seema gets re-united with Rajesh. Her grandmother arranges their marriage. However, on the day of the wedding, a beautiful young woman, Prema, along with a young child in her arms, stops the marriage, claiming that Rajesh is already married to her and is the father of her child…

He went on to cinematograph the crime drama Patthar (1985), starring Om Puri, Anuradha Patel, and Deepika Chikhalia. In 1989, he cinematographed the super-hit film Maine Pyar Kiya, directed by Sooraj Barjatya. This musical romance drama starred Salman Khan and Bhagyashree Patwardhan, along with a supporting cast comprising Alok Nath, Reema Lagoo and others. The film told the tale of Prem and Suman. After Suman's father leaves her in the care of another family while he travels abroad, she falls in love with Prem. However, in order to for them to marry, Prem has to prove to Suman's father that he is not the same as his own father.

In 1990, he cinematographed Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri. An action crime comedy, directed by Aziz Sejawal, it depicted a father-son combination who con the entire city of Bombay. 

The same year, he worked on Baaghi: A Rebel for Love, starring Salman Khan and Nagma. An action drama romance, it was directed by Deepak S. Shivdasani. It portrayed the saga of a man who turns rebellious and goes against his family and society to protect his love, a prostitute.

He went on to cinematograph the Raj N Sippy directorial Saugandh (1991), which starred Rakhee, Akshay Kumar and Shanti Priya. The plot of this action drama revolved around a woman whose entire family is murdered by a cruel landowner. She vows that she will get her son and his daughter married someday.

Next, he worked on the Partho Ghosh romance thriller with elements of horror – 100 Days. It told the tale of a young, clairvoyant woman who has a vision of a murder and sets out to uncover the truth before the killer finds her. It starred Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit and Javed Jaffrey.

His last film was the Aziz Sejawal actioner starring Shatrughan Sinha, Shabana Azmi, and Sanjay Dutt – Adharam (1992). 

Hicha Kay Chukla, his Marathi directorial which released in 1985, starred Kanchan Adhikari, Dharmendra, and Vikram Gokhale. 

Arvind Laad passed away on 9 November 1990.