My Favorite Indian Directors

1. S.S. Rajamouli

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 ...

2. 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 '...

3. 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...

4. Trivikram Srinivas

Writer | Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo

Trivikram Srinivas is an Indian screenwriter and director famous for his works in Telugu Cinema. Hailed by his admirers as "Guruji" and "Maatala Maanthrikudu" or the "Wizard of Words", he is famous for his witty and thought provoking dialogues. Born as Akella Naga Srinivasa Sarma, he started his ...

5. 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 ...

6. 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 ...

7. 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 ...

8. 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 ...

9. 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 ...

10. 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 ...

11. 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...

12. Maneesh Sharma

Director | Band Baaja Baaraat

Maneesh Sharma was born in Delhi, India. He is known for Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), Fan (2016) and Tiger 3 (2023).

13. 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...

14. Prashanth Neel

Writer | K.G.F: Chapter 1

Prashant Neel said in an interview that the film has been inspired from the epic Mahabharata completely. The gangster family of the Kolar Gold Fields is based on the Kuru family where the old freaking Suryavardhan resembles Dhritrasthra/Bhishma. Rocky's character is completely based on Karna (the ...

15. Puri Jagannadh

Writer | Pokiri

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 ...

16. 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...

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 ...

18. 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 ...

19. Anand Gandhi

Writer | Tumbbad

Born 26th September 1980 in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Anand started writing and directing plays in school at the age of 12. At 19, he wrote a total of hundred episodes of two television soap operas, which went on to become the most popular shows in the history of Indian Television. The same year ...

20. 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. ...

21. Ayan Mukerji

Director | Brahmastra Part One: Shiva

Ayan Mukerji was born on August 15, 1983 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is a director and writer, known for Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and Wake Up Sid (2009).

22. Lokesh Kanagaraj

Writer | Master

Lokesh Kanagaraj is an Indian film director who works primarily in the Tamil film industry who started his film career with the 2016 anthology film called Aviyal.He was born in Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. He majored in fashion technology before pursuing his MBA. He was an ex bank ...

23. Amit Ravindernath Sharma

Director | Badhaai ho

Amit Ravindernath Sharma was born on April 13, 1980 in Delhi, India. He is a director and producer, known for Badhaai Ho (2018), The Intern and Lust Stories 2 (2023).

24. Om Raut

Director | Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

Om Raut is an Indian writer, director & producer. He was born on 21 December 1981 in Mumbai, India. He is best known for his first movie Lokmanya Ek Yugpurush (2015) which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director. The film starred Subodh Bhave, Chinmay Mandlekar & Priya Bapat in the key ...

25. Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Director | Animal

Sandeep Reddy Vanga studied at Platinum Jubilee High School in Warangal and then moved to Hyderabad, where he completed his schooling. Later, he pursued his bachelor's degree from the SDM College of Physiotherapy in Dharwad, Karnataka.

Although Vanga always harboured an interest in filmmaking, it ...

26. Siddharth Anand

Writer | War

Siddharth Anand is one of India's most successful film director of his generation and the biggest director of his genre - action entertainer - in our country. With films like War, Bang Bang and the all-time biggest Hindi film, Pathaan, he has stamped his dominance as a force to reckon with in Hindi...

27. Nagraj Manjule

Writer | Sairat

Nagraj Popatrao Manjule (born 24 August 1978) is an Indian film director, actor, producer, scriptwriter, poet, screenwriter, filmmaker and he works in the Marathi Cinema. Manjule grew up in Jeur village in the Solapur district of Maharashtra. He belongs to the traditionally-nomadic Waddar community...

28. Vikas Bahl

Writer | Queen

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 ...

29. Nag Ashwin

Director | Mahanati

Nag Ashwin Reddy, more commonly known as Nag Ashwin, is an Indian film director and screenwriter who is best known for his work in Telugu cinema.

After finishing his schooling at Hyderabad Public School, Ashwin pursued his Bachelor's in Mass Communication from the Manipal Institute of Communication....

30. Bejoy Nambiar

Director | Taish

Bejoy Nambiar was born on April 12, 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.

31. Kabir Khan

Producer | Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Kabir Khan is presently one of the most sought after Bollywood directors. His beat of cinema is very different from the rest of his league. He comes from documentary style of film making. He is known for his brilliant cinematographic skills. He graduated from Delhi University's Kirori Mal College. ...

32. Abhishek Kapoor

Director | Kai po che!

Writer-Director of the successful Bollywood feature films Kai Po Che, Rock On!! and Kedarnath. He is the founder of production company Guy in the Sky Pictures (India). His latest movie Kedarnath released on 7th December 2018. Abhishek lives and works in Mumbai, India where he is preparing for his ...

33. 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).

34. Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi

Writer | Kanche

Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi was born on November 10, 1978 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is a writer and director, known for Kanche (2015), Gabbar Is Back (2015) and Vedam (2010).

35. 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).

36. Imtiaz Ali

Writer | Jab We Met

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 ...

37. Ali Abbas Zafar

Director | Sultan

Ali Abbas Zafar was born 17 January, 1982 in Dehradun, India. He is an Indian screenwriter-director, known for his acclaimed, blockbuster films Sultan (2016) and Tiger Zinda Hai (2017).

After majoring in Chemistry at Delhi University, he assisted various directors in Mumbai before making his ...

38. Mohit Suri

Director | Aashiqui 2

Mohit Suri (born 11th of April 1981, India) is a film director, as well as an assistant director and member of the Bhatt family. His uncle is director Mahesh Bhatt and his cousin is actor Emraan Hashmi who has starred in three of his films. His sister Smilie Suri has also appeared in his film ...

39. Sekhar Kammula

Writer | Happy Days

Sekhar Kammula was born on February 4, 1972 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is a writer and director, known for Happy Days (2007), Anand (2004) and Love Story (2021). He is married to Srividya Kammula.

40. Vamshi Paidipally

Writer | Maharshi

Vamshi was born in Nirmal Telangana in India. He did his schooling in Hyderabad Public School, and his intermediate from Little Flower Junior College. He then completed Bachelor's in commerce and a Master's in Computer Applications (MCA) from Badruka Educational Society. He later quit his software ...

41. Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam

Writer | Pelli Choopulu

Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam was born on November 5, 1988 in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India. He is a writer and actor, known for Pelli Choopulu (2016), Sita Ramam (2022) and Keedaa Cola (2023).

42. Sujoy Ghosh

Writer | Kahaani

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 ...

43. Abhishek Chaubey

Writer | Udta Punjab

Abhishek, a renowned Indian filmmaker who co-wrote and directed the critically acclaimed dacoit action film, Sonchiriya, an RSVP production. He began his career as an associate director and co-writer to Vishal Bhardwaj for his debut Makdee (2002) & went on to assist him in his subsequent films, and...

44. Raj Nidimoru

Writer | The Family Man

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 ...

45. Krishna D.K.

Writer | The Family Man

Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru, 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 ...

46. Zoya Akhtar

Writer | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

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 ...

47. Aditya Dhar

Writer | Uri: The Surgical Strike

Born in Delhi Aditya is a writer, director and lyricist. His directorial debut feature film Uri: The Surgical Strike, starring Vicky Kaushal produced by RSVP Films, was a smashing success making over Rs. 200 Cr in box office collections. The critically acclaimed film was widely appreciated by the ...

48. Ajay Bhupathi

Writer | Mangalavaaram

Ajay Bhupathi is an Indian film director who works predominately in Telugu films. He's known for his work in debut film RX 100 which was a Massive Hit. Ajay was associated with Maverick Director Ram Gopal Varma for 3 films (Killin Veerappan, Vangaveeti, Attack).

His father, Ramaraju Vegesna is a ...

49. Deva Katta

Director | Republic

Deva Kaushik Katta is an Indian-born American-resident filmmaker who debuted as a successful writer/director on the big screen with the feature film Vennela (Telugu). Deva Katta also made a digital docufeature about Indian students in America which is titled Valasa. He has a Master of Science ...

50. Hanu Raghavapudi

Writer | Sita Ramam

Hanumanth Rao Raghavapudi aka Hanu Raghavapudi is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works primarily in the Telugu film industry. He made his directorial debut with Andala Rakshasi and later directed films such as Krishna Gadi Veera Prema Gaadha, LIE, Padi Padi Leche Manasu, and Sita ...

51. K. Selvaraghavan

Writer | Aayirathil Oruvan

Selvaraghavan is an Indian movie director, actor, and screenwriter who predominantly works in the Tamil film industry. He has directed numerous genre films, from romantic to science fiction and fantasy; he has done it all. He also owns a production company named White Elephants, along with Yuvan ...

52. Gautham Vasudev Menon

Actor | Vaaranam Aayiram

Gautham Vasudev Menon (born 25 February 1973), also known as GVM, is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. He has also directed Telugu and Hindi films, which are remakes of his own Tamil films. Many of his films have been critically acclaimed, ...

53. Gowtam Tinnanuri

Director | Jersey

Gowtam Tinnanuri was born on March 21, 1983 in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is a director and writer, known for Jersey (2019), Jersey (2022) and Vd12.

54. 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 ...