ADITYA CHOPRA
He’s helmed just three films in the last 21 years, but Aditya Chopra — Adi to the industry — deserves to be on this list simply as the man who gave us the film that’s redefined romance for a generation... and beyond. With Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge — DDLJ to all — Yash Chopra’s son (and now Rani Mukerji’s husband) gave us a love story both fun and fresh and one that’s become the prototype for romance ever since. And Adi, thanks for giving us Raj and Simran!
KARAN JOHAR
Big and beautiful. Karan Johar’s films started out selling a dream: rich, happy and successful people leading rich, happy and successful lives in a rich, happy and successful world. Slick and star-studded, in KJo’s “NRI blockbusters” not a strand of hair was out of place on his hero’s head, not a crease visible on his heroine’s chiffon sari. He complemented the aesthetics of set and costume with effective storytelling and screenplay. He even married realism with scale: from KANK to Khan. And as producer, from Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu to Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, he did it in style.
IMTIAZ ALI
For him, romance can be as much ecstasy as agony, love as loss, delight as doom. Socha Na Tha to Tamasha, Imtiaz Ali has redefined love, giving us magical moments and memorable characters that have overturned the template of the quintessential Bollywood romance. From the feel-good Geet-Aditya romance in Jab We Met to Jordan’s destructively searing love for Heer in Rockstar, from the doomed Mahabir-Veera relationship in Highway to the almost diabolical equation between Ved and Tara in Tamasha, Imtiaz has explored the varied dimensions of love aaj and kal to give us stories that make us smile, then cry, and then smile through our tears.
SOORAJ BARJATYA
From Maine Pyar Kiya to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, it’s family that’s been the cornerstone of Sooraj Barjatya’s cinema. Saccharine-sweet relationships to selfless filial ties, Barjatya has given Bollywood a feel-good film formula: shiny, happy people living shiny, happy lives. Adding shine to the Barjatya template has been the presence of superstar Salman Khan and the absence of sex and sleaze. The result: thumping box office across generations.
ABBAS-MUSTAN
The brothers in white are known for their slick films, coming up with edge-of-the-seat thrillers that pack in the staple must-haves: sex, lies, videotape… and more than a couple of murders. From the SRK-powered Baazigar to Baadshah and the twist-a-minute Race films, Abbas-Mustan have proved themselves to be the true ‘khiladi’ of thrillers that pack a punch as well as rock the box office.
ANURAG KASHYAP
One of the most original filmmakers in Bollywood today, AK has perfected his brand of realistic, hard-hitting and visceral cinema. If his debut film Black Friday exposed the underbelly of the 1993 Bombay blasts, then Gangs of Wasseypur explored heartland violence over five epic hours. A director with vision and voice — despite the Bombay Velvet misstep —Kashyap has given a heady spin to a classic (Dev.D), produced some of the most talked-about films in recent times and has made India a consistent presence on the Cannes red carpet. And by taking the fight to the censors with Udta Punjab, he’s proved that he’s fearless both on and off screen.
RAKEYSH OMPRAKASH MEHRA
The former adman started off with a desi — and largely disastrous — take on Face/Off with Aks, but gradually found his feet to become known as a filmmaker who tells powerful stories that consistently pay dividends both critically and commercially. His biggest strength: films that explore diverse genres — stirring patriotism (Rang de Basanti) to inspiring biopic (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag) to classic romance (his October release Mirzya).
RAJKUMAR HIRANI
The most consistently successful filmmaker of our time has his finger on the pulse of his viewer: juggling the warmth of jadoo ki jhappi and the cold jingle of blockbuster box office. Hirani may operate largely within the same template, but his brand of feel-good cinema has been Bolly’s monster success story. In the bargain, he’s given us people — Munna to Circuit, Rancho to PK — and motifs — ‘Aal izz well’ to ‘Wrong number’ — that have become an indelible part of our Bolly consciousness.
FARHAN AKHTAR
His career as an actor is far more prolific than his filmography as a director. But one big — make that huuuuge — reason for this man of multiple talents to feature on this list is that his films have consistently been genre bending. His debut Dil Chahta Hai changed the paradigm of the Bolly friendship film, giving us men, moods and moments that we keep going back to with every TV rerun. Lakshya may not have found much favour, but remains a film that’s patriotic without being preachy. And then Farhan (pleasantly) surprised us with his fresh take on Don — with Shah Rukh Khan slipping into Amitabh Bachchan’s badass shoes — giving us a classic that we loved with a whole new twist. Wanted: more films from Farhan Akhtar the director.
ROHIT SHETTY
Flashy and flamboyant, Rohit Shetty’s films are a reflection of the man he is. The former stunt man has perfected a unique combo of action and humour, coming up with fun entertainers that strike gold with the audience. Blowing up cars may be his forte — Singham to Dilwale — but Shetty also does well in making you double up with laughter — Golmaal to Bol Bachchan. No wonder every big star — Shah Rukh to Ajay, Kajol to Kareena — queues up to be a part of the Shetty bandwagon.
ASHUTOSH GOWARIKER
Detailed and grand — an Ashutosh Gowariker film can be spotted a mile away, with the actor-turned-director being distinguished by his almost obsessive eye for detail and his penchant for mounting his films on a big scale. Gowariker has also made period drama cool in Bolly — Lagaan to Jodhaa Akbar to the upcoming Mohenjo Daro — by telling yesterday’s stories that resonate with the viewer of today. And did we mention he likes his films long... very long?
KABIR KHAN
He who makes masala look intelligent. Kabir Khan earned his stripes as a documentary filmmaker and now brings his skills to his films, tempering them with realism and giving us tales that entertain as well as make us think — Kabul Express to Bajrangi Bhaijaan. And like his favourite star Salman, Kabir owns the box office — yes, Bajrangi... sits pretty at Rs 300-crore-plus!
VISHAL BHARDWAJ
The man who started out as a music maker has been single-handedly responsible in not only familiarising the Bolly Gen-Y viewer with Shakespeare, but also giving a desi twist to the Bard. While Maqbool brought alive Macbeth, Haider was a gritty take on Hamlet and Othello became Omkara, giving us a memorable character like Langda Tyagi. Even when he’s dabbled in other genres, Vishal has explored Shakespearean elements — dark themes and diabolical intentions. Remember Kaminey?
SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI
Larger than life. That’s Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films. The Khamoshi man’s luminous storytelling is consistently cranked up by opulent sets, gorgeous costumes and stunning locations, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to Devdas, Ram-Leela to Bajirao Mastani. Bhansali’s eye for aesthetics complement his powerful screenplays, with fans trooping in as much to gape at his sets as to smile and sniffle through his stories. And now he’s hell-bent on giving DeepVeer epic status.
NEERAJ PANDEY
His films may be low budget, but every release comes in with high expectations. Reason? The Howrah boy has always delivered with his brand of smart thrillers starring lucky mascot Akshay Kumar that manage to not only gain critical acclaim but also rake in sizeable box office. Pandey’s biggest plus: gaining the loyalty of a large audience base without dumbing down his films. Will he be as successful now as he switches gears to a biopic with MS Dhoni: The Untold Story? Let’s wait for September.
R. BALKI
A love story between a 64-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman in Cheeni Kum. Amitabh Bachchan as a progeria-afflicted 13-year-old in Paa. The seesaw of gender politics in Ki and Ka. When it comes to out-of-the-box ideas, adman R. Balki is the man. In a Bolly where tried-and-tested is often the preferred route, Balki has always experimented with concepts that may or may not hit bullseye when it comes to execution, but deserve top marks for being courageously hatke. @juniorbachchan as @SrBachchan’s dad… like really?
ANURAG BASU
The man who’s given us films like Life in a... Metro and Barfi! scores big when it comes to exploring the innocence of romance and relationships. A certain purity of storytelling marks Basu’s movies, making us smile sometimes, tear up sometimes. And yes, our man is a good hand at erotica too, doing kiss as well as he does kissa. Remember Murder?
SHOOJIT SIRCAR
The Salt Lake man has the uncanny ability to take a little slice of life and make it a tale worth telling. Who else could have made sperm donation such a thought-provoking yet humorous story? Or taken constipation and woven such a delightful tale around it? Toss in Madras Cafe and he is clearly one of the most exciting filmmakers in Bolly today. We hope Shoojit keeps telling stories about you and me, peppering them with (e)motion and humour, love and loss... and ultimately, life.
Who among these is your favourite director and why? Tell t2@abp.in
