Hansal Mehta is the filmmaker behind India’s most successful true-crime streaming franchise, Scam. After Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story and Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, he is now showrunner and director of Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, coming to Sony LIV in January 2027.
Early life and career
Hansal Mehta was born on 29 April 1968 in Mumbai. He began in television in the 1990s with shows such as the food programme Khana Khazana, and moved to feature films in the late 1990s. His early films, including Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!! (2000), had mixed results, and he has spoken openly about stepping away from cinema for a few years after attacks on his work.
The second innings: Shahid and after
His return came with Shahid (2013), based on the life of lawyer and activist Shahid Azmi. It won him the National Film Award for Best Direction. He followed it with:
- CityLights (2014)
- Aligarh (2016), on professor Ramchandra Siras
- Omerta (2017)
- Chhalaang (2020)
- Faraaz (2023), on the 2016 Dhaka attack
Many of his films are based on real people and events, often people who were pushed to the margins.
The Scam franchise
Scam 1992 (2020), on stockbroker Harshad Mehta, became one of India’s biggest streaming hits. Mehta co-directed it with his son Jai Mehta, and it made a star of Pratik Gandhi. He won the Filmfare OTT award for Best Director for it. For Scam 2003 (2023), on the fake stamp paper case, he was showrunner while Tushar Hiranandani directed. Scam 2010 brings him back as director, with Sumit Purohit as co-director, based on Tamal Bandyopadhyay’s book Sahara: The Untold Story.
Other work
He co-created the series Gandhi with Sameer Nair. He is also active on social media, where he often comments on cinema and public issues.
Family
His son Jai Mehta is also a director and co-directed Scam 1992. Hansal Mehta married actor Safeena Husain, founder of the education charity Educate Girls, in 2022 after a long relationship.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hansal Mehta directing Scam 2010?
Yes. He is showrunner and director, with Sumit Purohit as co-director.
Which Scam seasons did he direct?
He co-directed Scam 1992 with his son Jai Mehta. On Scam 2003 he was showrunner, and Tushar Hiranandani directed. He returns as director for Scam 2010.
What awards has he won?
The National Film Award for Best Direction for Shahid, and the Filmfare OTT award for Best Director for Scam 1992.
What did he say about Scam 2010?
Around the teaser release, he described it as a story of ambition, influence and the arrogance that can follow both.
Questions to think about
- What makes the Scam series stand out from other true-crime shows?
- Should filmmakers wait until court cases end before making biopics?
- Which other Indian business story would suit the Scam format?
