Mushtaq Gazdar, born in 1940 in Karachi, obtained his MSc. degree in physics from the University of Karachi. In addition to his academic achievements, he acquired diplomas in film-making technique from London and Tokyo. Utilizing his expertise, he established his own production house in Karachi. He also worked as Production Assistant with the UK-based TV film mini-series, the Emmy Award winner Traffik (1989). Mushtaq Gazdar was married to Saeeda Gazdar, a short story writer and a poet, and they had a son and a daughter. His daughter, Aisha Gazdar, worked with her father and became a short documentary film maker in Pakistan in 2010.

He authored an extensive publication titled "Pakistani Cinema: 1947-1997," which served as a comprehensive analysis and historical account of Pakistan's film industry. This book was published in 1997 to commemorate Pakistan's 50th anniversary. Tragically, he passed away unexpectedly on 15 November 2000, he was elected the honorary secretary of the Pakistan Arts Council, Karachi.