Top 10 Bollywood Directors
by caabdul | created - 29 Jan 2013 | updated - 29 Nov 2022 | PublicUPDATE NOVEMBER 2022: Now showing TOP 25 Directors
After a detailed analysis of all my Indian movies ratings that I have ever rated, I have made this list listing my 10 best directors from Bollywood, throughout any time. My Ranking and analysis points (Bollywood & World wide) for each Director are also mentioned.
Directors with most recent work are given few extra points. LIST WILL BE UPDATED ROUGHLY EVERY FEW MONTHS.
NOVEMBER 2022 UPDATE HIGHLIGHTS:
NEW ENTRANCE: Shoojit Sircar, Sunil Dhawan, R. Balki
MAJOR RISE: Shoojit Sircar
EXIT: Umesh Shukla, Ken Ghosh, Rohit Shetty
MAJOR FALL: Umesh Shukla
CHECK ALSO;
Wordwide Top 25 Directors
There may be some directors which are not in the list only because I have not seen much of their work. Conversely there may be directors who don't deserve to be in the list only because I have not yet seen their bad works. If you think some Guru is missing, you may mention some of their best work so that I may consider it for my list. Thanks to all.
1. Jeethu Joseph
Writer | Drishyam
Jeethu Joseph is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. He has also worked in a few Tamil and Bollywood films. Jeethu made his directional debut with the 2007 police procedural film Detective and later went on to direct five successful films...
RANK = 1
(Wordwide Rank : 3)
RATING POINTS = 1054
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Detective (2007)
Drishyam (2013)
Drishyam 2 (2021)
2. 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...
RANK = 2
(Wordwide Rank : 6)
RATING POINTS = 1028
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003)
Lage Raho Munnabhi (2006)
3 Idiots (2009)
PK (2014)
Sanju (2018)
3. Nitesh Tiwari
Writer | Dangal
Nitesh Tiwari is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and lyricist. He was born and raised in Tiwari family at Itaasi, Madhya Pradesh. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, in 1996 with a Bachelor's degree in Metallurgy and Material Science Engineering. He is married to ...
RANK = 3 (Wordwide Rank : 10)
RATING POINTS = 984
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Chillar Party (2011)
Bhoothnath Returns (2014)
Dangal (2016)
Chhichhore (2019)
4. Sriram Raghavan
Writer | Andhadhun
Sriram Raghavan is an Indian filmmaker who works in the Hindi film industry. He is regarded as a writer of neo-noir thrillers that fall under the action genre. He was brought up in Pune, where he attended St. Vincent's High School. He went to Fergusson College in Pune to study economics.
After ...
RANK = 4 (Wordwide Rank : 12)
RATING POINTS = 960
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Ek Hasina Thi (2004)
Johnny Gaddaar (2007)
Agent Vinod (2012)
Badlapur (2015)
Andhadhun (2018)
5. Sukumar
Writer | Pushpa: The Rise - Part 1
Bandreddi Sukumar, popularly known as Sukumar, is a screenwriter, film director, and producer of Telugu films.
Sukumar was born to Tirupathi Rao Naidu, a rice trader, and Veera Veni, a homemaker. He studied at a Zilla Parishad High School in Razole in Andhra Pradesh. He went on to complete his ...
RANK = 5 (Wordwide Rank : 15)
RATING POINTS = 957
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Arya (2004)
Jagadam (2007)
Arya 2 (2009)
100% Love (2011)
1 - Nenokkadine (2014)
Nannaku Prematho (2016)
Rangasthalam (2018)
6. S.S. Rajamouli
Writer | Bãhubali 2: The Conclusion
S.S.Rajamouli is an Indian filmmaker who primarily works in Telugu cinema. He is one of the most celebrated filmmakers ever of the Indian film industry and pioneered the Pan-Indian films movement. Rajamouli was born in a Telugu family to V. Vijayendra Prasad and Raja Nandini. Both his parents hail ...
RANK = 6 (Wordwide Rank : 18)
RATING POINTS = 942
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Student No. 1 (2001)
Simhadri (2003)
Sye (2004)
Chatrapathi (2005)
Vikramarkudu (2006)
Yamadonga (2007)
Magadheera (2009)
Maryada Ramanna (2010)
Eega (2012)
Bahubali: The Beginning (2015)
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
7. 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 ...
RANK = 7 (Wordwide Rank : 37)
RATING POINTS= 906
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Hip Hip Hurray (1984)
Damul (1985)
Gangaajal (2003)
Raajneeti (2010)
Aarakshan (2011)
Chakravyuh (2012)
Satyagraha (2013)
Jai Gangaajal (2016)
Pareeksha (2020)
8. Priyadarshan
Director | Oppam
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He has worked in the Hindi and Malayalam film industry for almost 40 years and has directed over 90 films.
He completed his early education at Government Model School in Thiruvananthapuram. He later pursued his bachelor's degree from Mahatma ...
RANK = 8 (Wordwide Rank : 41)
RATING POINTS = 900
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya (1985)
Aram + Aram = Kinnaram (1985)
Boeing Boeing (1985)
...Aryan(1988)
Chithram (1988)
Virasat (1997)
Hera Pheri (2000)
Hungama (2003)
Hulchul (2004)
Garam Masala (2005)
Malamaal Weekly (2006)
Chup Chup Ke (2006)
Bhagam Bhag (2006)
Dhol (2007)
Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)
Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008)
Billu (2009)
De Dana Dan (2009)
Khatta Meetha (2010)
Rangrez (2013)
Geethanjali (2013)
Sila Samayangalil (2016)
Oppam (2016)
9. Subhash Kapoor
Writer | Jolly LLB 2
Subhash Kapoor was born in New Delhi, India. He is known for Jolly LLB 2 (2017), Jolly LLB (2013) and Maharani (2021).
RANK = 9 (Wordwide Rank : 46)
RATING POINTS= 897
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Phas Gaye Re Obama (2010)
Jolly LLB (2013)
Jolly LLB 2 (2017)
10. S. Shankar
Writer | Enthiran
Shankar is an Indian film director and producer who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He started his career as an assistant director to SA Chandrasekar and now he is the highest paid director in the country. He made his debut in Gentleman (1993) and since 2015 he has directed 12 movies. He won the ...
RANK = 10 (Wordwide Rank : 47)
RATING POINTS = 896
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Indian (1996)
Mudhalvan (1999)
Nayak: The Real Hero (2001)
2 (2018)
11. A.R. Murugadoss
Writer | Ghajini
Murugadoss Arunasalam, commonly known by his stage name AR Murugadoss, is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who predominantly works in the Tamil Film Industry. He is best known for his action Tamil films and Telugu films and for remaking them in Hindi cinema. Murugadoss won the ...
RANK = 11 (Wordwide Rank : 55)
RATING POINTS= 892
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Ghajini (2005)
Dheena (2001)
Raman (2002)
Ghajini (2008)
Holiday (2014)
Akira (2016)
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.
RANK = 12 (Wordwide Rank : 74)
RATING POINTS= 872
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Ankur (1974)
Zubeidaa (2001)
Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008)
13. Meghna Gulzar
Director | Raazi
Meghna Gulzar was born on December 13, 1973 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. She is a director and writer, known for Raazi (2018), Talvar (2015) and Chhapaak (2020).
RANK = 13 (Wordwide Rank : 76)
RATING POINTS= 871
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Talvar (2015)
Raazi (2018)
14. 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...
RANK = 14 (Wordwide Rank : 81)
RATING POINTS= 865
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Ab Tak Chhappan (2004)
Chak De! India (2007)
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009)
15. Simerjit Singh
Director | Angrej
Most popular Director and Writer of Punjabi films Simerjit Singh was born and brought up in Moga district of Punjab on 6th of December 1973. He is best known for directing the hugely successful Punjabi films Angrej (2015) starring Amrinder Gill, Aditi Sharma, Sargun Mehta, Ammy Virk and Binnu ...
RANK = 15 (Wordwide Rank : 94)
RATING POINTS = 857
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Angrej (2015)
Nikka Zaildar 2 (2017)
16. Manish Gupta
Writer | Section 375
Manish Gupta is a film director and writer in the Indian film industry.
Manish has directed the movies One Friday Night (2023), 420 IPC (2021), Rahasya (2015), Hostel (2011), The Stoneman Murders (2009) and Darna Zaroori Hai (2006).
Manish has written the screenplay and dialogues for the movies Sarkar...
RANK = 16 (Wordwide Rank : 97)
RATING POINTS= 856
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
The Stoneman Murders (2009)
Hostel (2011)
Rahasya (2015)
17. Neeraj Pandey
Writer | A Wednesday
Neeraj Pandey (born 17 December 1973) is an acclaimed Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. In his first movie A Wednesday, his work was largely praised by audiences as well as the critics. A Wednesday also won many awards in different categories. His second film Special 26 (2013) was ...
RANK = 17 (Wordwide Rank : 98)
RATING POINTS= 856
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
A Wednesday (2008)
Special 26 (2013)
Baby (2015)
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2017)
18. Indra Kumar
Director | Raja
Indra Kumar, born Indra Irani, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.
Born in a simple family, his siblings made a big name for themselves in the Hindi film industry. He owes his upbringing and success to his eldest sister Aruna Irani, who looked after all her siblings after their mother ...
RANK = 18 (Wordwide Rank : 99)
RATING POINTS= 855
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Dil (1990)
Ishq (1997)
Mann (1999)
Masti (2004)
Dhamaal (2007)
19. Shoojit Sircar
Director | Piku
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...
RANK = 19 (Wordwide Rank : 104)
RATING POINTS= 851
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Vicky Donor (2012)
Madras Cafe (2013)
Gulabo Sitabo (2020)
Sardar Udham (2021)
20. Aditya Chopra
Writer | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Aditya Chopra is a successful writer, producer, director, master storyteller, a visionary and also the driving force behind creativity at Yash Raj Films. He became an avid film buff from his early childhood. At the age of 18, his own film career kicked off. He started working as an assistant to his...
RANK = 21 (Wordwide Rank : 111)
RATING POINTS= 947
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Mohabbatein (2000)
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
Befikre (2016)
21. 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 ...
RANK = 22 (Wordwide Rank : 117)
RATING POINTS= 839
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Ghayal (1990)
Damini (1993)
Andaz Apna Apna (1994)
Barsaat (1995)
Ghatak: Lethal (1996)
China Gate (1998)
Pukar (2000)
Lajja (2001)
The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
Khakee (2004)
Family: Ties of Blood (2006)
Halla Bol (2008)
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009)
Phata Poster Nikhla Hero (2013)
22. Sunil Dhawan
Director | Puaada
Sunil Dhawan is known for Puaada (2021), Chal Mera Putt 2 (2020) and Vadhayiyaan Ji Vadhayiyaan (2018).
RANK = 23 (Wordwide Rank : 119)
RATING POINTS= 838
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Vadhayiyaan Ji Vadhayiyaan (2018)
Marriage Palace (2018)
23. Nadeem Baig
Director | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani
Nadeem Beyg is Pakistani film and television director, producer and writer from Karachi, Pakistan. His work as a film director includes Jawani Phir Nahi Ani & Punjab Nahi Jaungi which is known as the highest-grossing Lollywood film. Nadeem Beyg began his career as television director. He has ...
RANK = 24 (Wordwide Rank : 122)
RATING POINTS = 834
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Abhi Tou Main Jawan Houn (2013)
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani (2015)
Punjab Nahi Jaungi (2017)
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 (2018)
24. 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 ...
RANK = 20 (Wordwide Rank : 129)
RATING POINTS= 829
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Paanch (2003)
Black Friday (2004)
No Smoking (2007)
Gulaal (2009)
Dev.D (2009)
That Girl in Yellow Boots (2010)
Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
Ugly (2013)
Lust stories (2018)
25. R. Balki
Writer | Paa
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. ...
RANK = 25 (Wordwide Rank : 145)
RATING POINTS= 813
[BASED ON FOLLOWING TITLES]
Cheeni Kum (2007)
Paa (2009)
Shamitabh (2015)
Tell Your Friends