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{{no footnotes|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
'''Vishal S. Mahadakar''' (born 30 November 1978) is a film director in [[Indian film industry|the Indian Film Industry]]. After having worked on several films at Mahesh & Mukesh Bhatt's production house, [[Vishesh Films]], Vishal was conferred a directorial debut by the Bhatt's in their film [[Blood Money (2012 film)|Blood Money]], which starred [[Kunal Khemu|Kunal Kemmu]] and [[Amrita Puri]].

After Blood Money, Vishal then wrote and directed [[3 A.M. (2014 film)|3AM]], starring Rannvijay Singh and Anindita Nayar.

==Early life and education==

===Royal connections to Shivaji===
Vishal, direct descendant of [[Murarbaji|Murarbaji Deshpande]], the legendary General of [[Shivaji]] was born and raised at [[Pali Hill]], [[Mumbai]], home to the Top Guns of the [[Bollywood|Indian Film Industry]], it was but only a matter of time, that, films would finally have the better of Vishal and become an integral part of his life.

===Schooling in Mumbai and England===
Vishal's father, Capt. Shivaji Mahadkar (an Ex Army Officer and later a businessman) had enrolled him in the renowned [[Bombay Scottish School, Mahim]], [[Mumbai]]. However, it was at the behest of Vishal's grandfather, Late Col. Dattatraya Mahadkar who sent Vishal to [[Oxford]], [[England]] to study in the elite Dragon School, a top [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|
Prep School]] in Oxford, which saw future global leaders from all spheres of life, pass through its portals. Vishal left [[Bombay Scottish School, Mahim]] at the age of 8 and moved to [[Oxford]].

===Elite schooling in India===
Having completed the "O levels" at Oxford, he returned to India to study further in [[Sherwood College|Sherwood College, Nainital]], where other [[Bollywood]] luminaries like [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Kabir Bedi]] and [[Dalip Tahil]] were groomed. Since, Vishal had spent his formative years away from home, overseas, Vishal's father sent him for a year to Shahu Vidyalaya in the precincts of the Kolhapur Palace, to learn and study the rich heritage that he belonged to, under the personal tutelage and the watchful eyes of Shahu, the current heir to the throne of [[Shivaji]]. It was at the Kolhapur Palace that Vishal was introduced to the true Indian culture, arts and craft and literally lived through history.

===Higher studies in Mumbai and Australia===
Vishal went on to study further in institutions like [[Mithibai College]], [[Mumbai]] and [[Swinburne University of Technology]], [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] where he studied [[Business Administration]].

==Film career==

===From IT entrepreneur to movies===
On return to India in 1999, Vishal, under the guidance of his father, initiated his own [[Information technology]] business. He founded 'Mahadkar Infotech' and started a Multi Media Training Centre, which in addition to training, took on, Multi Media, Web Related and other Projects including software development. Vishal enjoyed the creative aspect of the business and personally spearheaded all projects executed by the company. Here, he was exposed to technologies involved in film making such as [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]], [[Visual effects|VFX]] and editing. Being an avid film buff, Vishal's interest in filmmaking was gradually evolving. Destiny takes its own course! Vishal's [[Information technology]] business had started taking on water post the IT meltdown in 2001. It was, after a great deal of deliberation, that, despite the risk of delving into a completely alien career, Vishal decided to give an expression to his latent passion and wound up his [[Information technology]] operations in 2003!

===Associate director and script writer===
Vishal joined [[Mohit Suri]]'s direction team on [[Kalyug (2005 film)]] as a junior [[Assistant Director]], and spent time closely learning the craft with [[Kunal Deshmukh]], who was also on the team. Vishal was then pushed up to First [[Assistant Director]] on film [[Woh Lamhe]] starring [[Kangana Ranaut]] and [[Shiney Ahuja]]. Vishal was now being monitored closely by the [[List of Hindi film clans#Bhatt family|Bhatt brothers]] as he was then promoted to Chief [[Assistant Director]] in film "[[Mohit Suri|Awarapan]]", starring [[Emraan Hashmi]]. It was during Awarapan that Vishal got to spend a lot of time with mentor [[Mahesh Bhatt]]. Seeing a potential director in him, the [[List of Hindi film clans#Bhatt family|Bhatts]] then promoted Vishal to [[Film director|Associate Director]] in film [[Raaz 2]] Starring [[Emraan Hashmi]] and [[Kangana Ranaut]]. During this period, Vishal was not only being groomed, but tested as well, being asked to take over troubled projects to handle. Vishal passed with flying colors and was on his way to becoming a [[Film director]].

===Break as a film director===
Vishal started bouncing projects off the [[List of Hindi film clans#Bhatt family|Bhatts]] and also wrote a number of scripts. However it was in 2011 that they finally saw potential in one of his story ideas involving the diamond mafia. They green lit the idea and Vishal hired award winning writer [[Upendra Sidhaye]] to pen this idea into a script. This script was later titled [[Blood Money (2012 film)|Blood Money]] and [[Kunal Kemmu]] and [[Amrita Puri]] were hired to star in Vishal's debut film.

Vishal made "Blood Money" in 42 shooting days, and two months of postproduction. Mahesh Bhatt, impressed by Vishal’s work, often took to Twitter to praise Vishal with remarks such as: "our brilliant new director", etc. Blood Money released on 30 March 2012 and was declared a hit in the box office in its 1st week itself, collecting about 11crores net in week 1.

Vishal then went on to direct [[3 A.M. (2014 film)|3AM]], a supernatural thriller, that dealt with the paranormal and got one to ask themselves the age-old question - is there life beyond death? [[3 A.M. (2014 film)|3AM]], starring Rannvijay Singh and Anindita Nayar went on to be considered by many as a path breaking, new age film, in the Indian horror film genre. The film was shot in 29 days, in Mumbai and Goa. The film also stars Salil Acharaya as friend turned (possessed) foe, and Kavin Dave.

With [[3 A.M. (2014 film)|3AM]], Vishal made his debut as a producer, co-producing the film, apart from having written and directed it.

==Filmography==
*''[[Blood Money (2012 film)|Blood Money]]'' (2012)
*''[[3 A.M. (2014 film)|3AM]]'' (2014)

==References==
*{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Director-Vishal-Mahadkar-suffers-burn-injury/articleshow/33445997.cms | title = Director Vishal Mahadkar suffers burn injury | publisher = [[Times of India]] | date = 8 April 2014 | author = Parag Maniar}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140512225555/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2443236/Vishal-Mahadkar-signs-Ranvijay-Singh-for-3-AM ]
*http://mahadkar.net/profile.htm
*http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Rannvijay-adds-authenticity-to-his-role-Vishal-Mahadkar/articleshow/43342466.cms
*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3720634/
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150121040525/http://www.hindustantimes.com/reviews/movie-review-3-am-is-a-slick-scare-fest/article1-1269030.aspx Hindustan Times]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahadkar, Vishal}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]

Vishal Mahadkar - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article