My fav. indian film directors
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Tigmanshu Dhulia was born on 3 July 1967 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is a director and actor, known for Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Paan Singh Tomar (2012) and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (2011).- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Madhur Bhandarkar was born on 26 August 1966 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. He is a director and writer, known for Chandni Bar (2001), Babli Bouncer (2022) and Page 3 (2005). He has been married to Renu Namboodiri since 15 December 2003. They have one child.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
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, Marathi films, television serials and commercials and although the transition from acting to direction was difficult, it was destined.
His diverse exposure as an actor whetted his appetite to helm a project, taking on the directorial reign for the first time with Pehla Nasha (First Love), a murder mystery in 1993. Though the film did not do very well at the box office, it helped Ashutosh find firm ground as a director. He followed this up with Baazi (The Game), a thriller, in 1995, which enjoyed average success, but led Ashutosh on a journey in search of a better script.
With Lagaan, which released in 2001, Ashutosh veered away from most norms in the making of a mainstream commercial Hindi film - a period drama, set in rural India; it's language a dialect; most of its characters were dressed in loincloths; it included a British cast; it was a musical, and a sports film put together! It was produced by Aamir Khan who also starred in it. Lagaan was nominated at the Academy Awards in the Best Film in a Foreign Language category for 2001 and earned plaudits worldwide for its meticulous execution and evocative performances.
His fourth feature film, Swades, was written, produced and directed by him, starring Shah Rukh Khan. The film released worldwide in 2004 to critical acclaim and attained huge success at the international box office.
February 2008 saw the release of his most ambitious magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar, an epic romance. This brought together two of the most respected actors, Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film won the Best Foreign Film in the International Film Festival of Sao Paulo in Brazil, South America and the Grand Prix Best Film and Best Actor in the International Film Festival Golden Minbar in Kazan, Russia, as well as sweeping all of the Indian Film Awards.
His next film saw him take on a new genre with What's Your Raashee?, being Ashutosh's first romantic comedy, based on the Gujarati novel Kimball Ravenswood by Madhu Rye. The film featured Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra.
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is a period thriller starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, based on the book 'DO and DIE: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34' by Manini Chatterjee.
His last release, Mohenjo Daro, set in the Indus Valley Civilization stars Hrithik Roshan and debutant Pooja Hegde along with a stellar supporting cast including Kabir Bedi and Arunoday Singh.
Ashutosh has now engaged in the filming of his newest magnum opus Panipat, which is slated to release on December 6th, 2019. Based on the legendary third battle of Panipat, which took place on 14th January 1761 between the Marathas and King of Afghanistan, Panipat promises to be his grandest outing yet.- Music Department
- Writer
- Director
Abbas Tyrewala was born on 6 June 1984 in India. He is a writer and director, known for Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008), Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Pathaan (2023). He has been married to Paakhi A. Tyrewala since 30 April 2006.- Writer
- Editor
- Producer
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. Among his awards, include 11 Filmfare Awards. He is the founder and owns the production house Rajkumar Hirani Films.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
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 finishing his schooling, he attended Ramjas College, Delhi University. During his college days, he went on to work as an assistant manager in a restaurant.
Jha was inspired to enter the film industry after he met an art director during the shooting of the film Dharma (1973). Later, he went on to enrol at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, Maharashtra, to study filmmaking.
He worked on a biographical film called Sonal (1973) in the 1980s, which explored the life of the dancer Sonal Singh. He made another documentary called Faces After the Storm (1981), which was based on the communal riots of Bihar, India, focusing on the incident where Hindu extremists massacred numerous Muslims. However, the award-winning documentary was banned soon after its release.
In 1984, Jha made his directorial debut with the film Hip Hip Hurray (1984), which revolves around the lives of a group of high school students. The film was critically acclaimed and was featured in a book 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed.
He founded a cultural society called Anubhooti in 1991 to work on social issues like health care, disaster management, upliftment of the poor, and much more.
His 2001 film Gangaajal (2003) marked a turning point in his career- renowned actors like Ajay Devgn and Gracy Singh were cast in this film.
Jha has received several awards and accolades for his work in the film industry, like the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Damul (1985), the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for Apaharan (2005), the apsara award for best dialogue for Aarakshan (2011), etc. He has also achieved great international acclaim for his films like Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Parampara (1986), Parinati Parinati (2020) (2020), etc. Lipstick Under My Burkha Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016) (2016) premiered at the Stockholm International Film Festival. Aparahan was the opening film at the Indian Film Festival in Israel.
Jha has also been involved in Indian politics. He started his political career by joining the Janta Dal in the early 1990s. He contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 as a Janta Dal candidate from his hometown, Bettiah, in Bihar.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Mahesh Bhatt was born on 20 September 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".- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Kiran Rao graduated with an economics major from the Sophia College for Women (Mumbai) in 1995. She also received her Masters at AJK Mass Communication Research Center at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi.
Kiran Rao started her career as an assistant director in 2001. She met actor Aamir Khan on sets of Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001). They were married in December 2005. Kiran Rao is the second wife of Aamir Khan. After suffering a couple of miscarriages, the couple had a son born via surrogate on December 1, 2011.
Since 2001, she has been assisting in prominent movies. She scripted, directed, and produced the acclaimed Mumbai Diaries (2010).- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Nikkhil Advani was born on 28 April 1971 in Mumbai, Maharahstra, India. He is a writer and producer, known for Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), P.O.W. Bandi Yuddh Ke (2016) and D-Day (2013).- Visual Effects
- Music Department
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Abhinay Deo was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is known for Delhi Belly (2011), Game (2011) and Blackmail (2018). He is married to Smita Deo.- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Anees Bazmee was born on November 1, 1962 in a remote town of Modasa in Gujarat, India. Born to an Urdu poet Abdul Hameed 'Nerang' Bazmee and housewife Khatoon Begum, he realized his cinematic inclination at a very early age. He started working as a Child artist at the tender age of 12 and showcased his acting chops in films like 'Bhayanak' and 'Kitab'. He was greatly applauded for his portrayal of young Shatrughan Sinha in 'Naseeb'.
Poetry and lyricism courses through his blood and he credits his father for passing his hold over words to him. At age 13, in the year 1976, he landed in Mumbai to follow his dreams of being a filmmaker. He dabbled in a number of jobs in his initial years viz, art direction, editing and sound recording to gain hands on experience and knowledge about the workings of the industry and filmmaking. He worked as an assistant writer to some of the most prominent writers of that time mainly Mr Ravinder Pippat and Jainendra Jai. During these years, the desire to become a director took root in his heart.
His consistent hard work and belief in himself turned this desire into reality when in 1982, he worked alongside the legendary actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor in the film 'Prem Rog' as an assistant director. Thereafter he assisted many more eminent Bollywood directors and ghost-wrote for more than 15 films.
In 1990, the film 'Swarg' starring superstars Rajesh Khanna and Govinda marked Anees Bazmee's debut as a screenplay writer. A certified box-office hit, the film received critical acclaim for its spectacular writing. He was soon engulfed by writing projects and delivered consecutive hits, each one bigger than the last, like 'Shola Aur Shabnam', 'Raja Babu', 'Aankhen', 'Deewana Mastana', 'Bol Radha Bol', 'Laadla' and 'Mujhse Shaadi Karoge', to mention a few. He has earned the title of being the most prolific writer among his generation, penning over 60 films in Hindi, Tamil and Marathi across varied genres including comedy, romance, suspense, thriller, action, etc.
In the year 1995, his long overdue aspiration of being a full-fledged director was fulfilled. He wrote and directed the box-office success film 'Hulchul' which starred Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Vinod Khanna. In 1998, he delivered his next blockbuster 'Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha', once again starring Ajay Devgn and Kajol. The film 'Deewangee' followed in 2002. In 2005, he created a revolutionary wave in Indian Cinema with the comedy film 'No Entry'. This film permanently marked him as one of the most accomplished directors of recent times. The following years saw him breaking records with hit after hit movies like 'Welcome','Singh is Kinng' and 'Ready', to name a few.
A writer-director of great virtuosity, Anees Bazmee has worked with an illustrious set of stars like Irrfan Khan, Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Govinda, Paresh Rawal and Nana Patekar among others. He has also maintained prolonged and healthy relations with highly regarded production houses like UTV, Boney Kapoor Productions, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, Baba Films, Firoz Nadiadwala and Studio 18.
A career traversing over three and a half decades and counting, he has mastered the art of filmmaking and has captured millions of hearts through his storytelling, all over the world. He has made people cry, fall in love and fall off their seats laughing. Truly a master, he has carved a niche for himself in the world of blockbuster and entertainment of Indian cinema.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K., popularly known as Raj & DK, the writer-director-producer duo, are popular for their unique and original content. Pioneering in mixing genres masterfully and trailblazers of fresh, quirky humour in Indian cinema. Their latest offering is the Number 1 series in the country, the espionage drama, The Family Man.
Their debut feature, Flavors (2003), won rave reviews from around the world and is a cult hit, especially among Indian expatriates around the world. The film won a host of awards and was an official entry at over a dozen prestigious international film festivals.
They followed up this independent film with a mainstream Hindi film, 99 (2009). 99 (2009) was a sleeper hit at the Indian box office and was number 1 for 4 weeks in a row. It received terrific reviews from the media and the audiences alike; including 4 star reviews from The New York Times to Rediff.com.
They followed it up two contrasting films: Shor In The City, which was acclaimed as the best film of the year. And Go Goa Gone, Indian's first stoner comedy.
Their last film, the horror comedy Stree was a blockbuster and is supposed to be one of the most profitable films of all time.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Luv Ranjan is an Indian filmmaker who works predominantly in the Hindi film industry. He is known for directing youth-centric films. Ranjan did his schooling at St. Paul's Academy in Ghaziabad. He went on to study at the Hindu College, Delhi University.
Before becoming a director, Ranjan worked as an assistant for director Suneel Darshan. In 2005, he quit his job to pursue a writing course at the New York Film Academy.
Ranjan made his directorial debut with Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011), starring Kartik Aaryan, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Divyendu Sharma, Raayo S. Bakhirta, Sonnalli Seygall, and Ishita Raj. The story revolves around three bachelors and their love life. It became a sleeper hit. The film was screened at the Indian Film Festival in Berlin and was well-appreciated by the audience. It received the Most Successful Small Budget Film Award at the ETC Bollywood Business Awards 2010.
His next film was Akaash Vani (2013), a romantic drama starring Kartik Aaryan, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Sunny Singh. The story highlights the significance of being happy and respected rather than being seen as righteous at all times. It is a love story that acts as a social drama too. The film earned positive reviews from critics.
In 2015, he directed Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015), which was the sequel to his debut film Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011). The film starred Kartik Aaryan, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Sonnalli Seygall, Ishita Raj, Sunny Singh, and Omkar Kapoor in lead roles. The movie plot traces the love life of three young men who fall in love with three women and are left dealing with their whims and fancies.
Ranjan followed it up with Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), another romantic comedy film. Like his previous films, this film too had Kartik Aaryan and Nushrratt Bharuccha in lead roles along with Sunny Singh. The storyline is about a friend and a girlfriend fighting over a man about whom they both are pretty possessive. The film became a blockbuster and earned about Rs. 152 - Rs.156 crores worldwide. It was one of the highest-grossing Hindi movies in 2018.
Ranjan's next directorial venture was Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023). In this film, he opted for the pairing of Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, starring opposite each other for the first time. This romantic comedy revolves around a young couple in love and the trials and tribulations faced by the couple. The film received mixed reviews from critics.
Besides directing films, Ranjan has been involved in writing and producing films and TV shows. He started his journey as a producer in 2016 with Life Sahi Hai (2016), a TV series created by Tarun Jain.
Since then, he has produced several films, including Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), De De Pyaar De (2019), Jai Mummy Di (2020), Malang (2020), Vadh (2022), and Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023), among others.
Ranjan launched his film production company, Luv Films, in 2021, along with his childhood friend Ankur Garg.
In February 2022, Ranjan married his girlfriend, Alisha Vaid.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Bejoy Nambiar was born on 12 April 1979 in Kochi, Kerala, India. He is a director and producer, known for Taish (2020), Solo (2017) and Shaitan (2011). He was previously married to Juhi Babbar.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
R. Balakrishnan, also known as Balki, is a prominent Indian filmmaker and screenwriter known for his unconventional storytelling style.
After completing his education, Balki began his career in advertising and made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film Cheeni Kum (2007) in 2007. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu and received widespread appreciation for its unique storyline and the actors' performances.
Balki's next film, Paa (2009), featured Amitabh Bachchan in a remarkable performance as a child suffering from progeria, a rare genetic disorder. The film was a commercial success and won several awards, including the 2009 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
Balki continued to make thought-provoking films, such as Shamitabh (2015), which explored the relationship between a mute actor and his voice actor, and Ki & Ka (2016), which challenged gender stereotypes by depicting a house husband and a career-oriented wife. His film, Pad Man (2018), addressed menstruation's stigma and promoted menstrual hygiene.
His short film called Chup (2022) was released in February 2021. Chup has been widely appreciated by critics and audiences alike for its sensitive portrayal of a complex issue and its ability to spark a conversation around it.
Besides his filmmaking career, Balki wrote several successful ad campaigns, including the famous Daag Ache Hain for Surf Excel. He also produced the TV series Chup (2022) and the film Mission Mangal (2019)).
Balki is married to Gauri Shinde, a renowned director and filmmaker. The two first met when Balki was looking for a writer to work on his ad films, and Shinde was recommended to him. They eventually fell in love and married in 2007. Despite their busy schedules, they collaborated on several projects, with Balki producing Shinde's films and Shinde working on the scripts for Balki's films.- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Vikas Bahl is an Indian film producer, screenwriter, and director, know for his works predominantly in Hindi Cinema. He produces films under Phantom Films, and was the former head of UTV Spot Boy. One of the most respected Media Executives India has seen, headed the Marketing for Radio Mirchi and made it as the top most recalled Radio brand in India. He has garnered two National Film Awards. At his stint as the Business Head of Sab TV, the channel rose from number 9 to one of the Top 3 channels, on the viewership count.- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Five feature films, three short films, one web series, six Filmfare awards, an Emmy nomination and India's official entry to the Oscars outlines Zoya Akhtar's unique ability to tell stories that break the conventional norms and create waves globally.
Zoya's directorial journey began with Luck By Chance (2009), followed by Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), and the internationally acclaimed Gully Boy (2019), which have since acquired cult status, and won numerous global awards and accolades. The globally celebrated series Made in Heaven (2019) for Amazon Prime and the international Emmy nominated Lust Stories (2018) for Netflix have further extended Zoya's reach as a universal storyteller. Zoya's most recent directorial, The Archies (2023) is the official adaptation and the first ever feature film of the globally revered Archie comics.
Through Tiger Baby, Zoya has also turned producer - with Made in Heaven (2019), Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (2022), Dahaad (2023), The Archies (2023) and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) already under her belt, and many more exciting projects to come!- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Vikramaditya Motwane is a writer, director and producer (unfortunately not always in that order) and a partner in Phantom Films with Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl and Madhu Mantena. His directorial debut Udaan (2010) was selected to compete in the 'Un Certain Regard' category at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. He's since directed Robber (2013), Trapped (2016) and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018) and was the showrunner and co-director on Sacred Games (2018), Netflix's first Indian original.- Producer
- Writer
- Art Director
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 originality of thought were encouraged. This has made him a maverick whose films reflect refreshingly new content that easily strikes a chord with filmgoers.
In 1999, Farhan collaborated with Ritesh Sidhwani, a friend who shared his passion for good cinema, to form Excel Entertainment, a production banner that has become synonymous with excellence in film-making.
Debuting at the age of 26, as a writer, director, and producer with Dil Chahta Hai (2001) a coming-of-age film that has gained cult status, Farhan came to be lauded for his honest, path-breaking writing and his ability to extract mature performances from his cast. The film won Farhan his first National Award for 'Best Hindi Feature Film' along with Filmfare awards for 'Best Feature Film - Critics Choice' and 'Best Screenplay'.
Almost two decades later, this film continues to influence a generation of filmmakers.
Seven years after his dream debut as a writer-director, Farhan debuted as an actor-singer in Rock On!! (2008) Yet another runaway success, the film secured him a second National Award for 'Best Hindi Feature Film' and a Filmfare award for 'Best Debut Performance'.
The dream run continued with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) which released in 2011 to much popular and critical acclaim, winning him three Filmfare awards for 'Best Film', 'Best Actor in a supporting role' and 'Best Dialogue'.
His next, a biopic on Indian athlete Milkha Singh, popularly known as 'the Flying Sikh', was entitled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013).
He essayed the role with such integrity that it set the standard for other actors considering to play titular protagonists in biopics. Deservingly, Farhan swept all awards that year for 'Best Actor' as did the film for 'Best Film'. It also claimed the National award for 'Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment.'
His most recent release The Sky Is Pink (2019) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received a 15-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Roy Thomson Hall.
In addition to his contribution to Indian cinema, Farhan has initiated and supported a plethora of social causes. In 2012, he founded MARD (Men against Rape & Discrimination), an initiative that raises awareness about gender-related issues amongst the youth of India. Recognizing his sustained efforts, Farhan was made the first male UNwomen goodwill ambassador (South Asia) in 2014.
Additionally, Farhan feeds his passion for music by writing, composing and performing live with his band FarhanLive.
His English language debut album 'Echoes' released in March 2019 to critical acclaim.
He has 2 daughters and lives in Mumbai, India.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Nishikant Kamat was born on 17 June 1970 in Dadar, Maharashtra, India. He was an actor and director, known for Dombivli Fast (2005), Drishyam (2015) and Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008). He died on 17 August 2020 in Hyderabad, India.- Director
- Editor
- Writer
David Dhawan was born on 16 August 1955 in Agartala, Tripura, India. He is a director and editor, known for Aankhen (1993), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999). He is married to Karuna Chopra Dhawan. They have two children.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Nagesh Kukunoor was born on 30 March 1967 in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. He is a director and writer, known for Rainbow (2015), Iqbal (2005) and 3 Deewarein (2003).- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Imtiaz Ali is an Indian film director, actor and writer. In 2005, he made his directorial debut with the film Socha Na Tha. However, it was his second film Jab We Met (2007) that brought him success and fame. His 2009 film Love Aaj Kal gained much critical success, and was declared a super hit at the box office. His movie Rockstar (2011) was also a commercial and critical success. Imtiaz Ali had his origins in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.He was brought up in Patna and Jamshedpur. He had his early education in Patna- D.B.M.S. English school, Jamshedpur,and later attended University of Delhi in Delhi, where he took part in college theater. He started Ibtida the dramatic society of Hindu College. Thereafter he moved to Mumbai and did a diploma course from Xavier Institute of Communication.- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Milan Luthria was born on 28 January 1968 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is a director and assistant director, known for The Dirty Picture (2011), Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010) and Tadap (2021).- Director
- Writer
- Music Department
Dibakar Banerjee was born on 21 June 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).- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Born on 21st May 1966 in Kolkata, Sujoy Ghosh is an Indian film writer, director, actor and producer who is well known for his critically acclaimed movies like Jhankar Beats, Kahaani, Ahalya and Badla.
The film maker started the trend of multiplex movies in Bollywood with his directorial debut Jhankaar Beats in 2003 which went on to become a superhit. Ghosh's mystery thriller film Kahaani which released in the year 2012 was his path-breaking female lead movie for which he bagged many awards including a National Film Award for Best Screenplay and a Filmfare Award for Best Director. In 2016, his film Kahaani 2 was released which is a sequel to Kahaani. With his 15 minuter short film - Ahalya (2015), he started the trend of mainstream directors making digital short films.
His latest crime-thriller Badla, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu received a widespread acclaim and emerged as the content film of the year for its nail-biting plot that left the audiences at the edge of their seats till the very last moment. This is his second film with Amitabh Bachchan, first being Aladin and second being the 2016 thriller film Te3n which was produced by Sujoy. Alongside writing and directing films, Sujoy also acts with the Bengali mystery-thriller Satyanweshi (2013) being his debut film as an actor where he played the role of Byomkesh Bakshi.
Not many know but the popular phrase of the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders - "Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re" was penned by Sujoy himself. With the quality driven content in his films, Sujoy Ghosh is one of the leading filmmakers in the country.- Actor
- Producer
- Music Department
Aamir Khan was born on March 14, 1965 in Mumbai. He is one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors who is also known as "Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood". With his recent successes in both the Indian and Chinese film markets, he has shouldered his way into becoming one of the world's biggest superstars. Undergoing rapid transformations in his body structure to better embody the variegated characters in his energetic films, Aamir has garnered praise from all parts of the globe. His most visible transformations can be seen in such movies as Lagaan (2001), Fanaa (2006), Taare Zameen Par (2007), Ghajini (2008), 3 idiots (2009), Talaash (2012), Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017). His recent successes with movies like Dangal, PK , Talaash and TV serial Satyamev Jayate have attracted attention from more serious moviegoing crowds. However, he is perhaps better known for his fabulous comedic roles, as exemplified by his iconic performances in cult comedies such as Andaz Apna Apna, Passion, and Dil Chahta Hai, to name a few. Aamir is also no slouch at TV commercial work.
2001's Lagaan released in China nationwide, beginning what would be a series of Aamir Khan films that would firmly plant Indian filmmaking into the minds of Chinese audiences. 3 Idiots became a cult hit in China farther along in the 2000's, followed by Like Stars on Earth and Ghajini, both of which went on to gain huge followings. Aamir Khan's streak of Chinese box office hits continued into and throughout the 2010's with the rapid-fire release of Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017).
Aamir was first introduced as a child artist in the 1970's hit Procession of Memories (1973) - he was the youngest child in the trio.
His performance in Earth (1998) as the Ice-Candy man has received rave reviews from Indian and international critics. Using classic "method acting" and an adopted technique inspired by his seniors Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor, Aamir acts in all genres of Indian films - comedy, action, drama and romance. He is regarded as a complete Indian actor of the post 1990 generation of actors for his diverse choice of roles and films. In 2007 he turned director with the film Like Stars on Earth (2007), which not only brought him immense critical acclaim but was also a huge box office success. Many of his films are considered as cult classics like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Rang De Basanti (2006), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) and Andaz Apna Apna (1994). He divorced his first wife Reena Dutta on December 09, 2001 and married Kiran Rao in December 28, 2005 and divorced her on July 03, 2021.
In 2008 his first all out commercial action film Ghajini (2008) went on to become the highest grossing film of its time in Indian Cinema and 4th highest inflation adjusted, grossing a total of Rs.226 on the worldwide box office and the first film to cross 100 crores on the domestic Indian box office, making a total of Rs.115 crores. This record didn't last long, though, since his next release 3 Idiots (2009) went on to shatter not only the highest grosser record but many more. It not only made the highest opening first day, first weekend and first week records but subsequently continued to shatter many records on the following weekends and weeks, making many circuits on the way. It made a total of Rs.202 crores domestically and Rs.400 crores on the worldwide box office, becoming the highest overseas grosser to date, a staggering feat given that no other film had even come close to making Rs.100 crores on the domestic box office until then, except for his own Ghajini (2008) the previous year.
Aamir is said to be the actor who first started the trend of actors working in one film at a time, when the others worked in four or five at the same time. He is also known to shun popular film trade magazine awards like Filmfare, Star Screen, etc. as he doesn't have trust in their credibility and transparency. Recently he was awarded the third highest civilian honor Padama Bhushan by the government of India.
Aamir's expansive range of characterizations remains unparalleled amongst his contemporaries. Because of this diversity and his formidable ability to portray different characters believably on screen, he is today regarded not only as one of the biggest stars in Bollywood but also as one of the finest actors in all of Indian Cinema.- Producer
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- Director
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 about the 1993 Mumbai bombings, followed by No Smoking (2007), Dev D (2009), Gulaal (2009), That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011) and Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). As a screenwriter, he wrote the scripts for the Filmfare Award-winning Satya (1998) and the Academy Award-nominated Canadian film Water (2005). He founded his film production company, Anurag Kashyap Films Pvt. Ltd. in 2009.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Deepa Mehta is a transnational artist and a screenwriter, director, and producer whose work has been called "courageous", "provocative" and "breathtaking". Her visually lush and emotionally resonating films have played at every major international film festival; receiving numerous awards and accolades, and have been distributed around the world. Deepa was born in India and received a degree in philosophy from the University of New Delhi before immigrating to Canada. She began her career making documentaries in India.
In 1991, Deepa's first feature film Sam & Me, which stars Om Puri, won a Special Jury Mention in the Camera D'Or section at the Cannes Film Festival. Between 1992-1994 she directed two episodes of The Young Indiana Jones, produced by George Lucas for ABC. In 1993, Deepa directed her second feature film Camilla, a Canada-UK co-pro starring Jessica Tandy, Bridget Fonda, Elias Koteas, Maury Chaykin, Graham Greene, and Hume Cronyn. Fire, which Deepa wrote and directed, is the first film in her Elemental Trilogy (Fire, Earth, Water). Fire opened Perspective Canada at the 1996 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was runner-up for the People's Choice Most Popular Film Award. It played at the New York Film Festival and won many awards worldwide, including the Audience Award for Best Canadian Film at the Vancouver International Festival, the Special Jury Prize at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival and Silver Hugo Awards for Best Direction and Best Actress in Chicago.
Earth, based on Bapsi Sidhwa's acclaimed novel about Partition, Cracking India, is the second film in the Elemental Trilogy. It premiered as a Special Presentation at the 1998 Toronto International Film Festival, and won the Prix Premiere du Public at the Festival du Film Asiatique de Deauville and the Critics' Award at the Verona Schermi d'Amore International Film Festival. Bollywood/Hollywood was a change of pace. Written and directed by Deepa, it is a lighthearted, affectionate comedy about two mismatched lovers. It opened Perspective Canada at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival and was a tremendous crossover box office success. It remains one of the top 10 grossing English language Canadian movies. In 2003 Deepa co-wrote and directed the Canada-UK co-pro The Republic of Love, based on a Carol Shields novel.
After a disrupted and hazardous production history Deepa's final film in the Elemental Trilogy Water opened the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, and was the first Canadian film acquired by US distributor Fox Searchlight. Water is a powerful, hauntingly tragic story, set in Benares (Varanasi) about a child widow who at the age of eight is forced to enter a house of widows where she has to live for the rest of her life. The movie was to have been shot in India in 2000, but Hindu fundamentalists fomented riots, burnt sets, and issued death threats against the director and actors, forcing production to shut down and the filmmakers to leave the country. Water was successfully remounted in Sri Lanka and completed shooting in June 2004, and features many of India's most renowned actors.
Water was an enormous success. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 79th Annual Academy Awards, and has screened at festivals around the world, winning many awards, and remains an audience favourite. The Vancouver Film Critics Circle named Deepa Mehta the Best Canadian Director of 2006. This fall (2015) is the 10th anniversary of Water's launch.
In 2006 Deepa made a documentary about domestic violence in Toronto's immigrant families called Let's Talk About It, which continues to be used in community outreach programs. She then thematically segued into the feature film Heaven On Earth, which explores arranged marriages and isolation. Starring Preity Zinta, the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. It was awarded a Silver Hugo for Best Actress at the Chicago International Film Festival, and received the Best Screenplay Award at the Dubai International Film Festival. It also won the Youth Jury Award at the Schermi d'Amore Film Festival in Verona and the Audience Award at the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival.
In 2012, Deepa completed her epic cinematic adaptation of Salman Rushdie's famous novel about the history of India in the 20th century, Midnight's Children. A novel that won three Booker prizes. The movie, with 127 speaking parts, and covering five distinct time periods from 1917-1977, was a vast, ambitious undertaking and has screened all over the world, including the Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and the BFI London Film Festival. Midnight's Children was chosen as the Best Feature Film of 2013 at the Directors Guild of Canada's Awards.
Deepa's work as an artist, as a progressive voice about social issues, and her generous mentorship have often been recognized. She has received numerous honorary degrees and many awards and honours, among them: The Life of Distinction Award from the Canadian Centre of Diversity, The Excellence in the Arts Award from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and the Woman of Distinction, President's Award from the YMCA. She is a recipient of the Governor General's Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award for Film. Most recently, in 2013, Deepa was appointed as an officer to the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour, for her work as a "groundbreaking screenwriter, director, and producer." She is also a recipient of the province of Ontario's highest honour, the Order of Ontario.- Additional Crew
- Actress
- Writer
Farah Khan Kunder is an Indian film director, choreographer, writer, film producer, and actress with an extensive career in Hindi films. Khan studied at St. Teresa's Convent School, Mumbai, and then later studied sociology at St. Xavier's College, Bombay.
Khan's first movie as a choreographer was Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya (1981). She entered mainstream Hindi cinema as a choreographer in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) and gained fame with her choreographed song in the movie Virasat (1997), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for the song Dhol Bajne Laga.
Her next two Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography were for Dil Se.. (1998) and Ek Pal Ka Jeena from the film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000).
Some of her other award-winning choreographed songs include Bombay Dreams (2004), for which she got nominated for Tony Awards for best choreography, Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala from the movie Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) for which she won the National Film Award for Best Choreography and Filmfare Award for Best Choreography, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) in Tees Maar Khan (2022) for which she won another Filmfare Award for Best Choreography.
As an actress, she starred in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), and appeared in a small role in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Om Shanti Om (2007). After doing a few cameo roles, she was seen as the lead actor in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012).
Her directorial debut was Main Hoon Na (2004), starring Shah Rukh Khan and Zayed Khan. She then directed Om Shanti Om (2007), Tees Maar Khan (2010), and Happy New Year (2014).
She has appeared as a judge and co-host in several TV serials. She started with Indian Idol (2004), where she was the Judge in Seasons 1, 2, and 7. In 2006, she judged Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (2006) Season 1.
Then in 2008 and 2015, she also judged another dance show, Nach Baliye (2005) Season 4 and 7. In 2010, she was one of the judges for Dance India Dance: Li'l Masters (2010). In 2012, she did the show India's Got Talent (2009) Season 4 as a Judge.
In 2015, she co-hosted Bigg Boss Halla Bol: Farah Khan Replaces Salman (2015). In 2020, she was the interim host of Khatron Ke Khiladi - Made in India (2020). In 2022, she also hosted The Khatra Show (2019).- Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Born as Mahesh Vaman Manjrekar, Mahesh Manjrekar is an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer who works primarily in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and Bhojpuri films. Manjrekar has acted in several films, including some of his productions. He studied at Don Bosco High School, Mumbai, and then completed his graduation from the University of Mumbai.
He wanted to become an actor since childhood and joined theatre in college. In 1994, he played a role in the Marathi play Aflatoon and has been a part of several other plays like All the best, Dhyanimani, etc.
In his film career span of 20 years, he has worked in 75 films and written and directed almost 25 films. Manjrekar made his acting debut in the Marathi movie Jeeva Sakha (1992), in which he plays the role of Inspector Jamdade. He was also seen in Kshitij Ye Nahi (1992), a Doordarshan Marathi series, where he got the part of a leprosy patient.
Manjrekar became famous with his directorial debut movie Vaastav: The Reality (1999). He also directed films like Nidaan (2000) and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain (2000).
His performance in the movie Kaante (2002) as Raja "Balli" Yadav got him appreciation from the audience and his critics. He played the role of Sultan in the movie Plan (2004). In the same year, he worked in movies like Run (2004) as Ganpat Chowdhury and Musafir (2004) as Lukka.
Manjrekar played the role of Joy Fernandes in Zinda (2006), which also starred Sanjay Dutt. He also appeared in the Telugu film Okkadunnadu (2007) and then in the same year as Mahesh in a role in Dus Kahaniyaan (2007)
One of his most remembered performances is in the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008), an Oscar-winning movie in which he plays the role of Don Javed.
Another role that got him appreciation was negative in the movie Wanted (2008), as Senior Inspector Daulat R. Talpade. In 2010 he appeared in Teen Patti (2010) and the movie Dabangg (2010).
In 2011, he collaborated with Aniruddha Deshpande and established his own production company, Great Maratha Entertainment LLP Productions. The first film released under his production house was the Marathi movie Fakta Ladh Mhana (2011).
Manjrekar was next seen in Ready (2011), Bodyguard (2011), and OMG: Oh My God! (2012). He was also a part of Mumbai Mirror (2013), Shootout at Wadala (2013), and the Tamil film Arrambam (2013).
Manjrekar has also been a part of Jai Ho (2014), Singham Returns (2014), Bajirao Mastani (2015), Sanju (2018), Total Dhamaal (2019), Saaho (2019), Dabangg 3 (2019) and The White Tiger (2021).
In 2022 he appeared in the Telugu movies Sarkaru Vaari Paata (2022) and Mister Mummy (2022).
He has also appeared on several TV shows and serials like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (2006) as a Contestant, Maharashtracha Superstar (2010) as a Judge, and Bigg Boss Marathi (2018) as the host in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. He also appeared as Kismat Bhai in Taaza Khabar (2023).
He ventured into the OOT platform with a Marathi web series, Kaale Dhande (2019) and Forbidden Love (2020).
Manjrekar has won a total of 22 awards and has been nominated for 31 awards. The awards that felicitated Manjrekar for his performances are the National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards, Screen Awards, Filmfare Marathi Awards, Zee Cine Awards, Maharashtra State Film Awards, Pune International Film Festival, Marathi International Cinema & Theatre Awards, Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?, Colors Marathi Awards, and Sakal Premier Awards.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pradeep Sarkar was born on 30 April 1955 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He was a director and writer, known for Parineeta (2005), Mardaani (2014) and Dabba Gul. He died on 24 March 2023 in India.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a director, writer and producer who established Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures (Romp) in India. Romp has cultivated in them an attitude to pioneer the way for the new wave and new age cinema from India, by identifying talent (writers & directors) from India and telling Indian stories to the world.
Rakeysh has written, produced and directed the film Rang de Basanti (Color of Sacrifice) (2006), with an ensemble of Indian and International cast. Rang De Basanti won 4 National Awards (President's Medals), was India's official entry to the Oscars 2006- 2007 It was also nominated by British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in the Best Foreign language film category 06-07.
Rakeysh went onto make Delhi -6 (2009) which is set against the backdrop of the caste and religious divide of the Indian social fabric. Delhi -6 has achieved tremendous critical acclaim and was an official selection at the prestigious Venice Film Festival . It won two National Awards (President Of India Medals). The Variety has termed it as un-bollywood , and "a step forward from Rang De Basanti , ushering an era of new age Indian cinema."
In 2011, Rakeysh's documentary film Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story (which was co-directed by Jeffery Zimbalist) was an official selection at the Cannes 2011 to celebrate 100 years of Indian Cinema. It is a docu feature, an avantgarde take on how Indian cinema has reflected the changing socio-political landscape since India got independence from the British Raj.
His film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) was set in the backdrop of when India gained freedom from the British in 1947, and the bloody ethnic violence that led to the massacre of thousands and the displacement of millions. This story is about the triumph of the undying human spirit, based on the life of the greatest Indian Olympian Milkha Singh , also known as "The flying Sikh". The film made a clean sweep at all the popular film awards in India, including two National Film Awards (President of India Medals).
Mirzya - (2016) which is a contemporary take on the legend of Mirza-Sahiban, a tragic love story told as a musical spectacle premiered at the London Film Festival. It was showcased at Chicago Film Festival , Busan Film Festival etc.
He has recently finished his latest project named 'Mere Pyaarey Prime Minister' which is under post production and due to release Summer of 2018. It is the story of an 8 year old boy's desire to build a toilet for his mother.
Rakeysh is also producing the under production film 'Fanney Khan', starring Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rajkumar Rao. It is also expected to release by Summer of 2018.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
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 man, he attended Siddhartha Engineering College in Vijayawada. Varma started his career in telugu cinema (the Hyderabad film industry), where he made a huge mark with his debut film Shiva, a violent and stylized actioner set in a college backdrop. At the age of 28, with little film training, Varma was able to convince Nagarjuna, a young Telugu star, to act in his debut picture. Nagarjuna was drawn by the narration of the script and intelligence displayed by the young Varma. Shiva was a landmark hit for the industry and was remade by Varma in the hindi language a year later.
His next was the exciting adventure film, Kshana Kshanam, starring Venkatesh and Sridevi. Varma followed this up with such films as - Raatri, a homage to 'The Exorcist' starring Revati and Om Puri (which Varma would remake over a decade later in Hindi as Bhoot) and Antham, a stylized crime drama, with Nagarjuna and Urmila Matondkar (which Varma would also rework later as Satya) - but was not able to attain the commercial success of his first feature. His next release Gaayam, with Jagapathi Babu and Urmila Matondkar, was a violent crime drama set in Hyderabad. The screenplay was co-written by tamil film director Mani Ratnam, and the script based on 'The Godfather'. It became a success for Varma. He then decided to start his own production banner, Varma Corporation Limited, and produced successful telugu films such as Money (remade later as Love Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega), Money Money (its sequel), Gulabi and Anaganaga Oka Roju.
His first huge success in hindi cinema (the Mumbai film industry) was the commercial blockbuster Rangeela, a stylish romantic drama with Aamir Khan and Urmila Matondkar. A.R. Rahman, a tamil music composer, was introduced to hindi audiences by Varma with this film and won the award for best film music.
Varma followed up with the ground breaking gangster saga Satya, a violent crime epic set in the Mumbai underworld. The film was gritty and realistic, reinventing the crime genre in Indian cinema. Varma had done extensive research for the film, and reworked certain elements of his earlier film Antham. Satya was widely considered Varma's first true masterwork. Made on a shoestring budget and with new faces, the film won awards for actor Manoj Bajpai and music composer Vishal Bharadwaj. Satya became a turning point in Varma's career, winning best picture of the year, and Varma would be forever associated with Mumbai noirs.
Varma then, with fellow director Shekhar Kapur, created a joint film production company in 1998 called India Talkies. The first venture of the production house was the ambitious terrorist drama 'Dil Se', with Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. The film was a box office dud, and India Talkies would be short lived. Varma would return to focusing on his own production house Varma Corp.
The hard hitting masterpiece 'Shool' followed shortly after, written and produced by Varma. The film depicted the life of an honest police officer in the violent and harsh rural setting of Bihar. The film was a commercial and critical success with both Manoj Bajpai and Sayaji Shinde winning awards for their performances. Varma lightened things up next with the romantic drama 'Mast'. The film was inspired by Varma's own college days, and featured Aftab Shivdasani in an award-winning turn as a film crazy college student.
Varma decided afterwards to only direct films in the Mumbai film industry. He believed there was more talent in Mumbai than in southern film cities like Chennai and Hyderabad. Varma had always admired directors such as Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihlani, and Gulzar. He considers Kalyug, Ardh Satya, and Mere Apne among his favorite Indian films of all time. At a time when popular Indian Cinema featured either over the top action films or glamorous love stories, Varma's films were more rooted and realistic. Varma is known to frequently cut out song and dance sequences in his films, which are usually commonplace in Bollywood. His films almost always deal with the contemporary and urban, usually set in the city of Mumbai. He often uses Indian stage actors in his films rather than established bollywood stars. Mainly known for creating the 'Mumbai noir', Varma brought psychological depth and cinematic virtuosity to genre films.
More recently, Varma returned with the organized crime masterpiece 'Company'. The film was again set in the Mumbai underworld, and was based on real life Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his criminal outfit D-Company. The film featured award-winning performances by Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi and Manisha Koirala. The film also won awards for best editing by Chandan Arora and best story by Jaideep Sahni. The film was lauded by critics and audiences alike.
His latest release Naach, which Varma called his best film yet, was a largely self reflective piece, about the relationship between an idealistic choreographer and an ambitious actor. The film had a weak commercial run but was liked by critics. In a recent interview with the Indian Express newspaper, the filmmaker criticized Indian audiences saying "I gave Ayn Rand to a Municipal School."
He spends most of his time these days producing small budget films for his successful production house Varma Corp. Though not always credited, he is involved in all aspects of his productions, often believed to 'ghost direct' many of the films. He produces films at a fast speed that is unfamiliar to the Indian Film Industry. He has had many recent successes including - 'Ab Tak Chhappan', based on the experiences of famed Mumbai police Daya Naik, 'D', a prequel to his earlier hit Company based on the early years of Dawood Ibrahim during his days under Pathan underworld boss Karim Lala, 'Ek Hasina Thi', a female revenge thriller, and finally 'Road'. He has also produced lighter films such as 'Love Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega' and 'Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon'.- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Ramesh Sippy was born on 23 January 1947 in Karachi, Sind Province, British India. He is a director and producer, known for Sholay (1975), Saagar (1985) and Shaan (1980). He is married to Kiran Juneja.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Best known for his commercially storytelling abilities acclaimed writer-director Puri Jagannadh was born September 1, 1966 in Kothapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India. Over the course of 20 years of filmmaking, Puri Jagannadh has gone from small budget independent films to working on some of the biggest blockbusters ever made on Indian silver screen making heroes to super stars through his films!
Director Puri Jagannadh is considered as the Star Maker & Path Breaker of Tollywood. His dynamism in crafting each & every character of his films,his ease in redefining attitude, characterization & mannerism of all his actors, his super race screenplay and above all his command of dialogues & stories etc., made him one of the most successful directors of his time!
Hailed by his numerous fans & admirers as "Guruji" ,"The Star Maker" ,"The Rebellion" and "Gun of Words", he is famous for his films with sensible screenplay and dialogues without missing the commercial aspects required to acquire the Box office.
Puri Jagannadh is well known for his mark way of filmmaking. His biggest USP is the power of his pen and the rapid speed with which he shoots any and all his film.He is known as 'The' Super fast director of Tollywood,ever! An it's well known fact that any actor or actress who works with him will get a 360 degree change over, right from the attire to their attitude in the film which indeed makes him a hot selling cake in the market.
It's the doors of Puri Jagannadh which gets the knock by any star(s) or producers who wants to introduce their heir to the film industry. Puri Jagannadh has introduced many actors & actress like Ram Charan,Sai Ram Shanker,Puneeth RajKumar of Kanada,Anuksha Shetty( The Bahubali fame) Ameesha Patel, Renu Desai,Asin Thottumkal,Rakshita,Ayesha Takia, Haniska Motwani,Neha Sharma,Aah Sharma,Aditi Arya, Kangna Ranaut, etc all later went on to become superstars in both South and North film Industry. He is considered as the Golden Hand for actors & actress of Tollywood.
Right from the age of 7 years, Puri Jagannadh started writing short stories out of his interest and was an ardent book reader from his very childhood. By the age of 14 he almost read the holy Mahabharath,Bhagavad Gita, writing of the renowned writers & social philosophers like Gudipati Venkatachalam,Muppala Ranganayakamma etc,., which helped him to develop a strong character of his own and to develop his very own style & perspective of looking at things.
He started his career as an assistant director to Ram Gopal Varma and had worked for several Telugu films like Shiva(1990) Ninne Pelladata (1996) His Telugu directorial debut, Badri (2000) was a blockbuster, starring Pawan Kalyan in the lead role, along with Renu Desai, Prakash Raj, and Amisha Patel in supporting roles.
In 2006, Puri Jagannadh captivated audiences big time with his Action-Thriller 'Pokiri(2006) starring Mahesh Babu which he directed and produced. The commercial action thriller was a blockbuster, earning a distributor's share of Rs. 420 million. The film grossed Rs. 660 million worldwide and remained the highest-grossing Telugu film for three years and smashed all the previous records of all the films till date it was released. The same film was remade into various languages like Hindi,Tamil, Kanada etc by stars like Vijay (Tamil) Salman Khan (Hindi) & Darshan (Kanada) which too became super sensation hits. Pokiri's success all over catapulted Puri Jagannadh to nationwide recognition and every super star from all parts of the country urged to work with him,at least once. Pokiri, premiered at the 7th IIFA Film Festival held in Dubai.
Puri Jagannadh made many super duper commercial blockbusters hits throughout starting from his very first film 'Badri'(2000) and carried the legacy by 'Itlu Sravani Subramanyam'(2001) 'Appu' (2002) 'Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi' (2003) 'Sivamani'(2003) 143 (2004) 'Pokiri' (2006) 'Desamuduru' (2007) 'Chirutha' (2007) 'Bujjigadu'(2008) 'Neninthe(2008) 'Ek Niranjan' (2009) 'Businessman(2012)' 'Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu' (2012) 'Iddarammayilatho'(2013) 'Heart Attack' (2014) 'Temper' (2015) 'ISM' (2016) 'Paisa Vasool' (2017) etc.,which all went to become biggest blockbusters with a bombastic bang at Box Office making Puri Jagannadh one of the most super successful commercial directors of South Indian Film Industry.
He produces films under his own production companies, 'Puri Jagannadh Touring Talkies', 'Puri Connects' & 'Vaishno Academy'. He bankrolled many films on his own like Idiot(2002) , Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi(2003) Sivamani(2003) 143(2004) Pokiri(2006) Heart Attack (2014) etc., and all turned out to super successful at box office which not only made him a successful director but also proved him to be a successful producer too.
In the year 2011, Puri Jagannadh made 'Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap' with Indian Super Star and world wide renowned actor "Amitabh Bachchan" and the film turned out to be a blockbuster in B-town and Puri Jagannadh sent a strong shock wave to B-town through his dialogues, taking and by the way he could see and present Amitabh Bachchan as a anger young man, with a whole new different attire and attitude.
In his 20 years in film fraternity, he has made 33 films (with 90% success rate) which by itself is a unbeatable record for any director of his time period to break.
One Film on shot, one on pre-production and one on post production, this is how Puri Jagannadh tends to work, nonstop! To stop or to rest is something he doesn't believe in! There were many a times where he had 3 releases a year.
At present Puri Jagannadh is making a launch film for none other than his very own son 'Akash Puri' entitles 'Mehbooba' which is slated to be a high intense love story on the backdrop of 1971 Indo-Pak war, which is one of the most awaited film in South Indian.
'Mehbooba' fetched nationwide attention & grabbed the eyeballs of the people throughout the nation with it's teaser which got released recently, for the span,standard of making & for the breathtaking visuals in it,which is being produced by Puri Jagannadh himself on his home banner 'Puri Connects'
Owned Production Houses:
Puri Jagannadh Touring Talkies Puri Connects Vaishno Academy Puri Sangeet- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Cinema entered the ordinary life of a young, sports and soccer enthusiast Shoojit Sircar, studying in Delhi, India, quite by chance when during the XIIth grade a friend suggested accompanying him for the viewing of a film. Unbeknownst to Sircar, this film would mark for him the beginning of a whole new way of looking at life. The film was Satyajit Ray's 'Pather Panchali' ('Song of the Little Road'). Curious and much impacted by this 'art form', Shoojit went on to watch the entire 'Apu trilogy' including 'Aparijito' (The Unvanquished) and 'The World of Apu'; and all other films by Ray, besides films by film-makers Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen. There are three films however besides Ray's 'Pather Panchali' that Shoojit specifically credits for giving 'birth to the cinema within him'; and for encouraging him to look at everything in life, differently; these are - Truffaut's '400 Blows', Vittorio De Sica's 'Bicycle Thieves' and Oliver Stone's "Platoon". Another important turning point in his journey was when he joined 'ACT ONE', a theatre group in Delhi, led by director, Mr.N.K. Sharma. There Shoojit handled backstage, across all departments - giving him the experience of creating theatre with minimalist resources, along with being rooted in the rigor and discipline that comes with living the life of theatre. His first big break as independent director ironically was a commercial on football, which he followed with a music video, 'MANN KE MANJEERE'. While most music videos of the time catered to the 'pop' form of storytelling - this one explored a more realistic journey, that of a woman, played by Mita Vashisht; a single mother who breaks away from an abusive married life and chooses to become a 'truck driver', then quite the traditional bastion of the male. Composed by Shantanu Moitra, with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi and sung by Shubha Mudgal, the video was viewed by over 20 million people at the time, its impact described as '"Mann ke Manjeeré has made a breakthrough by claiming public space for women's aspirations." Shoojit's first major directorial feature 'YAHAAN' (2005), on the turmoil faced by the Kashmiri people - won him the best director award in the Osian Film Festival 2005. He followed that with "VICKY DONOR" (2012), a film that dealt with the issue of infertility and brought the taboo topic of sperm donation onto a dining table conversation, 'Vicky Donor' went on to win three national awards including 'Best Entertainer of the year'. He followed that up with the hard - hitting political thriller 'MADRAS CAFE' (2013), throwing light on one of the most tumultuous periods in the sub-continent history - the Sri Lankan civil war. A year later, he brought us the much loved slice of life, 'PIKU' (2015) - a father-daughter comic drama, centered around an ageing, possessive father and his constant 'bowel problem'; aptly played out by Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone; winning over 18 awards from across the nation. And then came, 'PINK' (2016) - a film that gave voice to millions of Indian women; that proclaimed a 'No means No'; a film that proved to be not just a movie but a 'movement'; With 'OCTOBER' (2018), Shoojit Sircar shared a most poetic, soulful, personal take on love... And with the absurdist satire, 'GULABO SITABO' (2020), an unapologetic take on human greed! And most recently, the powerful and cinematically rich period biographical drama, 'SARDAR UDHAM' (2021), a film about India's pre independence movement with a compelling take on the 'revolutionary vs. terrorist' debate. With such a diverse and distinct repertoire of films, Shoojit Sircar today stands out as one of the most important and original voices of Indian Cinema. Besides bringing forth such quality cinema, Shoojit Sircar has also taken up the mantle of backing projects as a producer, producing the much appreciated and well received (Bengali) features, "Aparajita Tumi" and "Open Tee Bioscope"
As an ad film maker, Shoojit has been recognized internationally through works like the Cannes award winning, 'Lead India campaign' by The Times of India group, which brought together most respected Indian icons. His last (digital) campaign, an authentic reflection on modern parenting, has become a major talking point, going on to garner millions of hits on social media.