rajkumar hirani

Films directed: Munnabhai MBBS (2003), Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), 3 Idiots (2009).

BO strike rate: 3/3. While Munnabhai MBBS, made on a budget of Rs 10cr, earned Rs 30cr, Lage Raho Munnabhai raked in Rs 65cr. At Rs 202cr, 3 Idiots is the biggest Bollywood blockbuster ever.

100cr film: 3 Idiots (Rs 202cr). The soft-spoken man who started out assisting Vidhu Vinod Chopra is today one of the most bankable names in the Bolly business. Popularly known as Raju, he is that rare filmmaker who combines message with mirth, injecting his films with a conscience and yet managing to entertain.

Coming up: Peekay, starring Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Anushka Sharma and Sushant Singh Rajput, will hit screens sometime next year.

rohit shetty

Films directed: Zameen (2003), Golmaal (2006), Sunday (2008), Golmaal Returns (2008), All The Best (2009), Golmaal 3 (2010), Singham (2011), Bol Bachchan (2012) .

BO strike rate: 6/8. The man who can now do no wrong at the box office started off with a flop, but almost every film of his since then has made big money .

100cr films: Golmaal 3 (Rs 107cr), Singham (Rs 100cr) and Bol Bachchan (Rs 102cr). Shetty’s formula of laugh-out-loud/below-the-belt gags, colourful sets and daring stunts (read explosions galore) has been consistently working at the box office, translating into three Rs 100cr films in the last three years. .

Coming up: Chennai Express with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone this Id. The promo has ‘blockbuster’ written all over it. Rohit Shetty-ishtyle!

karan johar

Films directed: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), My Name Is Khan (2010), Student of the Year (2012.

BO strike rate: 5/5. As director, Karan Johar has had a flawless run. His only part-failure? Bombay Talkies this year in which he directed one of the four shorts.

100cr films: None so far. My Name Is Khan managed Rs 72cr and Student of the Year Rs 63cr. If Kuch Kuch Hota Hai remains a cult campus romance even today, KJo broke new ground with KANK’s theme of infidelity and showed a mature mind at work in My Name Is Khan, winning over critics and cine buffs alike.

Coming up: No announcements yet. Is producing a slew of films, though.

imtiaz ali

Films directed: Socha Na Tha (2005), Jab We Met (2007), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Rockstar (2011).

BO strike rate: 4/5. Socha Na Tha with Abhay Deol and Ayesha Takia gave a glimpse of fresh directorial talent but didn’t work at the box office. Since then, Imtiaz Ali has struck gold each time.

100cr films: Love Aaj Kal came the closest with Rs 89cr while Rockstar earned Rs 67cr. He became an overnight sensation with Jab We Met, starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor. Since then, the Jamshedpur boy has delivered a mix of quality and cash.

Coming up: Highway, with the unlikely pair of Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt. Hits theatres on December 13.

mohit suri

Films directed: Zeher (2005), Kalyug (2005), Woh Lamhe (2006), Awarapan (2007), Raaz — The Mystery Continues (2009), Crook (2010), Murder 2 (2011), Aashiqui 2 (2013.

BO strike rate: 5/8. His debut film did average business, but the Bhatt protege has since then consistently delivered at the box office.

100cr film: Aashiqui 2 (Rs 101cr) Mohit has slowly but surely left his mark on the box office with films that have made enough to notch up a neat profit. Aashiqui 2 is his biggest hit by a fair distance.

Coming up: The Villain, starring Student of the Year hunk Sidharth Malhotra.

sajid khan

Films directed: Heyy Babyy (2007), Housefull (2010), Housefull 2 (2012), Himmatwala (2013) .

BO strike rate: 3/4. The brash bro of Farah Khan entered Bolly with a bang with Heyy Babyy raking in Rs 80cr. He followed it up with winners in Housefull and Housefull 2 but flopped miserably with Himmatwala this year.

100cr film: Housefull 2 (Rs 114cr) Criticised as mindless masala, Sajid Khan’s films have, however, earned pots of money. Few tears were shed when the director with the biggest mouth in the business was forced to eat the humble pie called Himmatwala.

Coming up: Has signed Saif Ali Khan and Riteish Deshmukh for a comedy called Humshakals.

...and the ones whose films are talked about the most

anurag basu

Films directed: Saaya (2003), Murder (2004), Gangster (2006), Life... In A Metro (2007), Kites (2010), Barfi! (2012.

BO strike rate: 4/6. Murder and Gangster —both Bhatt productions— made money while Life... In A Metro was a semi-hit. Kites was a disaster. Barfi! is Basu’s biggest, powering its way into the Rs 100cr club last year.

100cr film: Barfi! (Rs 120cr). With Barfi! — the love story of a deaf-mute boy and an autistic girl — Anurag Basu is now part of the coveted Bong club who can work with any star he wants..

Coming up: Hasn’t announced his next yet.

anurag kashyap

Films directed: Kashyap has 10 films as director to his credit — Black Friday to Dev D, That Girl in Yellow Boots to the Gangs of Wasseypur I & II.

BO strike rate: 3/10. While all his films have created a lot of noise, the box office hasn’t always warmed up to Kashyap. The two Gangs of Wasseypur films remain his top earners, followed closely by Dev D.

100cr films: None. The man who waited for years for his initial films to release is today one of Bolly’s most influential film-makers. Kashyap’s creations are rooted in reality, and most often divide audience opinions..

Coming up: Will shoot Bombay Velvet with Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in Calcutta this October.

sujoy ghosh

Films directed: Jhankaar Beats (2003), Home Delivery (2005), Aladin (2009), Kahaani (2012.

BO strike rate: 1/4. Jhankaar Beats may still enjoy a large viewership during its TV reruns, but it didn’t do well on release. Kahaani — Ghosh’s made-in-Calcutta film starring Vidya Balan — changed it all for the RD Burman fan.

100cr films: None yet. Kahaani earned Rs 50-55cr. The maverick filmmaker showed promise in his first film but followed it up with flop Home Delivery and flop-er Aladin. And then Kahaani, the story of a woman searching for her missing husband in the nooks and corners of Calcutta, happened. Now, everyone wants to work with him.

Coming up: Has signed Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah and Vidya Balan for Badla. Is slated to start work on Kahaani 2.

shoojit sircar

Films directed: Yahaan (2005), Vicky Donor (2012).

BO strike rate: 1/2. Yahaan — starring Jimmy Shergill and Minissha Lamba — struck a chord but didn’t work at the box office. Vicky Donor, seven years later, was the fairytale of 2012.

100cr films: None. Made on a budget of Rs 5cr, Vicky Donor earned big at Rs 37cr. He’s waited for years to get his films off the ground, but SS is a success story like few others. His Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Shoebite is still languishing in the cans, but he is definitely one of the men to watch out for..

Coming up: Madras Cafe with John Abraham and Nargis Fakhri on August 23.

sanjay leela bhansali

Films directed: Khamoshi (1996), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Devdas (2002), Black (2005), Saawariya (2007), Guzaarish (2010).

BO strike rate: 3/6. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Black scored big at the box office.

100cr films: Zero. Devdas is Bhansali’s highest grosser at Rs 84cr. The auteur known for his larger-than-life stories and lavish set-pieces is responsible for some of Bolly’s most opulent films in recent times. Bhansali may have slipped with flops like Saawariya and Guzaarish, but he remains enigmatic and talk about his films exciting..

Coming up: Ram Leela this November with Deepika Padukone playing Leela to Ranveer Singh’s Ram.

kabir khan

Films directed: Kabul Express (2006), New York (2009), Ek Tha Tiger (2012).

BO strike rate: 2/3. While Kabul Express was an average earner, New York notched up Rs 61cr. Ek Tha Tiger was the box-office giant of 2012, earning Rs 199cr.

100cr film: Ek Tha Tiger (Rs 199cr). The Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer holds the record for the fastest entrant into the Rs 100cr club: just five days! Documentary maker-turned-director Kabir Khan’s films have been shot in some of the most exotic locales — Afghanistan to Cuba.

Coming up: Hasn’t announced his next project yet.

vishal bhardwaj

Films directed: Maqbool (2003), The Blue Umbrella (2005), Omkara (2006), Kaminey (2009), 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (2013.

BO strike rate: 2/6. Vishal’s films may not make much money, but are invariably singled out for praise. They also make stars into actors.

100cr films: None. Kaminey remains Bhardwaj’s biggest hit, followed by Omkara. The music man-turned-filmmaker has made a place for himself as a director with a flair for storytelling. Vishal’s films are marked by intrigue and a realistic potrayal of life. .

Coming up: Nothing as of now.