The Best Directors of Bollywood
by saytosandeep | created - 20 Oct 2010 | updated - 09 Aug 2013 | PublicPresenting you the top directors from bollywood in somewhat chronological order.
1. Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre
Director | Do Ankhen Barah Haath
Rajaram has been married twice. His second marriage was to actress Jayashree. Jayashree passed away on the 19th of October, 2004 in Bombay, at the age of 84. Jayashree and Rajaram are survived by their son, Kiran Shantaram, former Sheriff of Bombay, and daughter, Rajashree, well-known former ...
Known for Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Navrang, Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje and Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli.
2. Raj Kapoor
Actor | Mera Naam Joker
Raj Kapoor was the son of well-known Indian actor Prithviraj Kapoor, who acted both in film and on stage. After apprenticing in the Bollywood production studios of the 1940's, at 24 years of age Raj Kapoor produced, directed and acted in Aag (1948), with his new company, RK Films. His next ...
Known for Awaara, Shree 420, Sangam, Mera Naam Joker. The showman.
3. Mehboob Khan
Director | Mother India
Mehboob Khan was born on September 9, 1907 in Bilimora, Baroda, Bombay Presidency, British India. He was a director and producer, known for Mother India (1957), Son of India (1962) and The Savage Princess (1952). He was married to Sardar Akhtar. He died on May 28, 1964 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.
Known for Mother India, Aan, Andaz and Anmol Ghadi.
4. Bimal Roy
Director | Bandini
Bimal Roy (July 12, 1909 - January 8, 1966) was an Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films such as Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Bandini (1963), Biraj Bahu (1954), Madhumati (1958) which he employed to portray realism. He won a number of awards throughout his...
Known for classics like Bandini, Devdas, Do Bigha Zameen and Madhumati
5. Guru Dutt
Actor | Pyaasa
Considered to be a man ahead of his time, Guru Dutt was one of the greatest icons of commercial Indian cinema. Although he made less than ten films, they are believed to be the best to come from Bollywood's Golden Age, known both for their ability to reach out to the common man and for their ...
Known for Pyaasa, Kagaz ke Phool, Baaz. The best of Black and White era.
6. Vijay Anand
Writer | Guide
Vijay Anand was a celebrated filmmaker, writer, editor, and actor in Hindi cinema. Known as "Goldie," the younger brother of filmmaker Chetan Anand and matinée idol Dev Anand, Vijay Anand was born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, India on January 22, 1934 to a father, who was a lawyer. He lost his mother when...
Known for Guide, Jewel Thief, Jhonny Mera Naam. Complete entertainer.
7. Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Director | Anand
By no means is he any glamorous director, yet Hrishikesh Mukherjee is one of the most popular and beloved filmmakers in Indian cinema. His magic lay not in the glamor or largeness so often associated with cinema, but in its simplicity and warmth.
He began his career in Bombay, 1951, as an editor and...
Known for Anand, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Gol Maal, Khubsoorat, Bemisal. Simplicity and flawless direction.
8. Manoj Kumar
Actor | Roti Kapada Aur Makaan
Manoj Kumar, born Harikrishna Giri Goswami, is an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter best known for his work in Hindi films.
Born in Abbottabad, a small town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan), he and his family shifted to Delhi during ...
Known for Upkar, Shor, Purab Aur Pashim, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan. Superb in songs, music, use of light.
9. Yash Chopra
Producer | Veer-Zaara
Labeled the eternal romantic and with one of the best musical senses in the business, Yash Chopra is arguably India's most successful director of romantic films. Although he made action-oriented films like the ever-popular Deewaar (1975), it is in tackling love and its various aspects that he has ...
Known for Waqt, Deewaar, Mashaal, Trishul, Kala Patthar, Silsila, Lamhe, Veer-Zaara. Moved from anger to love effortlessly.
10. Shekhar Kapur
Director | Elizabeth
Shekhar Kapur was born on December 6, 1945 in Lahore, Punjab, British India [now Pakistan]. He is a director and actor, known for Elizabeth (1998), Bandit Queen (1994) and The Four Feathers (2002). He was previously married to Suchitra Krishnamoorthi.
Known for Masoom, Mr. India, Bandit Queen, Elizabeth. India's gift to hollywood.
11. Gulzar
Music_department | Raazi
Gulzar is a writer, a lyricist, a director and, at heart, a poet. His films, sensitive, lyrical, and yet successful, were a welcome relief from the violent films that filled the 1970s and 1980s.
Born Sampooran Singh Kalra in Deena, in the Jhelum District in what is now Pakistan, he came to Delhi ...
Known for Koshish, Parichay, Aandhi, Kitaab, Angoor, Maachis.
12. Shyam Benegal
Director | Ankur
Shyam Benegal was born on December 14, 1934 in Tirumalagiri, Hyderabad State, British India. He is a director and producer, known for Ankur: The Seedling (1974), Bhumika (1977) and Trikal (Past, Present, Future) (1985). He is married to Nira Benegal.
Known for Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda, Junoon, Manthan, The Making of Mahatma and Welcome to Sajjanpur.
13. B.R. Chopra
Producer | Kanoon
One of India's most respected film personalities, Baldev Raj Chopra (better known as B.R. Chopra) has been an architect of what is now known as the golden era of the Bollywood industry. Having converted offbeat stories into immortal classics like Waqt (1965) and Naya Daur (1957), he commands high ...
Known for Naya Daur, Dastaan, Hamraaz, Nikah and Kanoon.
14. Govind Nihalani
Cinematographer | Droh Kaal
Govind Nihalani was born on August 19, 1940 in Karachi, Sindh, British India. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Droh Kaal (1994), Aakrosh (1980) and Dev (2004).
Ardh Satya, Dev, Aakrosh and Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa.
15. Mahesh Bhatt
Producer | Raaz
Mahesh Bhatt was born on September 20, 1948 in Bombay, State of Bombay, India. He is a producer and director, known for Raaz (2002), Zakhm (1998) and Saaransh (1984). He has been married to Soni Razdan since 1986. They have two children. He was previously married to Lorraine Bright "Kiran Bhatt".
Known for Zakhm, Saaransh, Hum Hai Raahi Pyaar Ke, Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahi, Arth, Naam
16. Rajkumar Santoshi
Writer | Andaz Apna Apna
Rajkumar Santoshi is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter of Hindi films. Counted as one of the most successful filmmakers in the Hindi film industry, he has received several accolades,including three National Film Awards and six Filmfare Awards.
Santoshi made his directorial debut ...
Known for Ghayal, Damini, Ghatak, Andaz Apna Apna, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Khakee. Amazing sense of anger and sense of humour. surprised!!
17. Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Producer | Bajirao Mastani
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is among the most celebrated Film Makers of the Bollywood. Having worked with the biggest stars of Indian Film Industry, Bhansali is the most sought-for director of the Bollywood. He started his career as an assistant director to Vidhu Vinod Chopra. If one has to name his '...
Known for Khamoshi, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Black. Amazing use of light and sounds.
18. Mani Ratnam
Writer | Dil Se..
The man who revolutionized Tamil-language cinema, Mani Ratnam is the biggest director in south India and one of the most respected directors in all of India. Each of his films contain its own unique style, with beautifully photographed songs and unique back-lighting. However, his films contain ...
Known for Guru, Yuva, Bombay, Roja, Naykan. Best when not self indulgent.
19. Anurag Kashyap
Producer | Gangs of Wasseypur
Anurag Singh Kashyap (born 10 September 1972) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. Kashyap made his directorial debut with as yet unreleased Paanch, with Kay Kay Menon as the lead. As a filmmaker, he is known for Black Friday (2004), a controversial and award-winning Hindi film ...
Known for Black Friday, Dev D, Gulal. Movies a bit different.
20. Ashutosh Gowariker
Writer | Swades: We, the People
His passion for cinema immediately draws your attention, making you realize that Ashutosh Gowariker would not have been anywhere except behind the camera, however tempting the choice. An actor who took to film direction after almost a decade in front of the camera, Ashutosh has acted in Hindi films...
Known for Lagaan, Swades, Jodha Akbar. Movies with substance and extra length.
21. Prakash Jha
Director | Gangaajal
Prakash Jha is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who is primarily known for his socially and politically relevant films like Apaharan (2005), Aarakshan (2011), and Raajneeti (2010), among others.
Jha went to Sainik School Tilaya in his hometown of Bettiah in Bihar, India. After ...
Known for Gangajal, Apharan, Raajneeti. He loves political dramas.
22. Rajkumar Hirani
Writer | PK
Rajkumar Hirani is an Indian film director and editor. Hirani has directed five Hindi films, including Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Lage Raho Munnabhai, 3 Idiots, PK and Sanju, and all of which have been commercial and critical successes. Most of which have won several awards, including the national awards...
Known for Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai, 3 Idiots. Flawless direction.
23. Rakesh Roshan
Actor | Koi... Mil Gaya
Rakesh Roshan was born on September 6, 1949 in Bombay, State of Bombay, India. He is an actor and producer, known for Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) and Krrish (2006). He is married to Pinky.
Known for Khoon Bhari Maang, Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish. Complete entertainer, knows what audience want.
24. Ram Gopal Varma
Director | Rangeela
Ram Gopal Varma was born in Hyderabad, the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He initially was a video store owner before eventually becoming one of India's leading film directors. A film buff during his youth, Varma would watch both American and Indian cinema regularly. As a young...
Known for Shiva, Rangeela, Kaun?, Satya, Company, Sarkar, Nishabd, Rann. Known for gangster movies and making some of the worst movies as well.
25. Shimit Amin
Director | Chak De! India
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Shimit Amin moved to the USA at a very young age and soon pursued filmmaking. He made his first film, "Ab Tak Chappan" (56 and Counting) about a group of Mumbai cops who became notorious with their license to kill.
His second film, "Chak De India" (Let's go India!), produced...
Known for Ab Tak Chappan, Chak De India, Rocket Singh. Known for deep details inside the movies.
26. Dibakar Banerjee
Director | Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!
Dibakar Banerjee was born on June 21, 1969 in New Delhi, India. He is a director and writer, known for Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015), Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (2021) and Shanghai (2012).
Known for Khosla Ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, LSD. Known for amazing sense of story telling and depth of characters.
27. Vishal Bhardwaj
Composer | Haider
Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, composer, singer and producer. He has directed ten feature films, produced five and composed music for more than forty. His directorial work includes Makdee, The Blue Umbrella, Kaminey, 7 Khoon Maaf, Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola, Rangoon, Pataakha as...
Known for Maqbool, Omkara, Kaminey, Makdee, The Blue Umbrella. Known for literature inspired movies.
28. Karan Johar
Writer | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...
A close friend of Shahrukh Khan, he assisted Yash Chopra's Yash Raj Films during the early days of of his career, making his directorial debut with the mega-hit Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). He also had a popular chat show named Koffee with Karan (2004) The success of "KKHH" made him one of the most ...
Known for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kabhi Alvida Na Kahna, My Name Is Khan. Known for movies based on NRIs.
29. Farhan Akhtar
Producer | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
An accomplished and award-winning producer-director-writer-actor-singer, Farhan Akhtar is the ultimate Bollywood multi-hyphenate. Born in 1974 to prolific Indian film writer and poet, Javed Akhtar and writer-director, Honey Irani , Farhan was raised in an environment where creativity and ...
Known for Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Don, Don 2. Apart from that he is a great actor as well.
30. Anurag Basu
Director | Ludo
Anurag Basu, a Bollywood director and writer explores relationships and adversity on reel. He had his share of tough times when he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Basu directed television serials among which is Tara (1993), which became one of the first soap operas on Indian television. He also ...
Known for Gangster, Life In A Metro and Barfi!
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