noted national film award-winning Indian film cinematographer, Ashok Mehta is known for Bollywood films, including 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Utsav (1984), Ijaazat (1987) and Bandit Queen (1994). The cinematographer has worked with directors of parallel cinema, including Shayam Benegal for Mandi (1983) and Trikaal (1985); Aparna Sen for 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) and Paroma (1984))mainstream Bollywood directors like Subhash Ghai for Ram Lakhan (1989) and Saudagar (1991); Mukul Anand for Trimurti (1995); Rajiv Rai for Gupt (1997), and MF Hussain for Gaja Gamini (2000).

He has also won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography for Moksha (2000), which is also his only directorial project in his career. His other projects include Aankhen (2002), Dil Ka Rishta (2003), Chalte Chalte (2003), Kisna: The Warrior Poet (2005), No Entry (2005), Waqt (2005), Family (2006), I See You (2006), God Tussi Great Ho (2008), Shortkut (2009), Hum Tum Aur Ghost (2010) and Teen Thay Bhai (2011). In 2012, the cinematographer died of lung cancer on 15 August 2012, at the age of 64.