 He directed only four films; of these were "Mahal" (1949) for Bombay Talkies, "Daera" (1953) with Meena Kumari and Nasir Khan, "Pakeezah", which was conceived in 1958 but was not brought to the screen until 1972.He also wrote the screenplay, lyrics and produced the latter.Film "Pakeezah" (1972) has been called one of the extraordinary musical melodramas ever made in India, although flawed but noble.