The Film That Helped These 10 Director’s To Enter The Top League

Rahul Dholakia too made a decent start to his career when he directed mediocre films like ‘Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar’ in 2002 which was followed up with the hard hitting ‘Parzania’, ‘Mumbai Cutting’ and ‘Lamhaa’. Being tagged as a controversial filmmaker it was time Rahul set the record straight as he signed up Shahrukh Khan for ‘Raees’. Despite surrounded among controversies ‘Raees’ performed very well at the B-O as it went on to become his first 100-Cr film.

Rohit Shetty wasn’t a household name when he started his Bollywood career. He made his directorial debut in 2003 with ‘Zameen’ which turned out to be an average affair at the box-office. It was the first installment of the ‘Golmaal’ series which pushed him into the top bracket of new-age directors. Though he is shooting the fourth installment of the same but he is the director with the maximum number of 100-Cr films to his credit which include ‘Golmaal 3’, ‘Singham’, ‘Bol Bachchan’, ‘Chennai Express’, ‘Singham Returns’ and ‘Dilwale’.

Ashutosh Gowariker started his career by playing supporting roles. He turned director with ‘Pehla Nasha’ in 1993 starring Deepak Tijori followed by ‘Baazi’ with Aamir Khan which received a lukewarm response. He made it big when he directed the period drama ‘Lagaan’ which became a blockbuster in 2001. Though he has directed quite a few biggies after ‘Lagaan’ like ‘Swades’, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and ‘Mohenjo Daro’ but his claim to fame will always remain ‘Lagaan’ which changed the course of filmmaking for Bollywood.

Well, what can be said about master craftsman Sanjay Leela Bhansali? Sanjay was an assistant director to Vidhu Vinod Chopra before directing his first film in 1996 which was ‘Khamoshi – The Musical’. The film though had lovely music it tanked at the box-office. His ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ in 1999 got him into the reckoning which was followed by hits like ‘Devdas’, ‘Black', 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela’ and ‘Bajirao Mastani’.

Kabir Khan who started his career by making documentary films got his first big break in 2006 when he directed YRF’s ‘Kabul Express’. Though his directorial debut boasted of stars like Arshad Warsi and John Abraham it did no good to his filmy career. His ‘New York’ too wasn’t received well at the box-office. But his Salman Khan starrer ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ changed his fortunes as its success got him into the bracket of Bollywood’s top director’s. He followed this up with ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ in 2015.

After assisting YRF directors for a while, Ali Abbas Zafar got his first break as a director with ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ in 2011 which met with a lukewarm response at the box-office. He followed this up by directing the Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh starrer ‘Gunday’ which did decent business but it was ‘Sultan’ with Salman Khan that got him into the big league. Not only that, he is now directing Salman in ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, the sequel to ‘Ek Tha Tiger’.

Nitesh Tiwari made his directorial debut with ‘Chillar Party’ which was a children’s film. Then he was signed up by Ravi Chopra to direct the sequel to Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Bhoothnath’, ‘Bhoothnath Returns’. The sequel did decent business in 2014 as it showed his prowess as a storyteller. But it was his third film ‘Dangal’ with Aamir Khan in 2016 which put him in the league of Bollywood’s top directors.

The ad filmmaker turned director, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra couldn’t have asked for a better launch as he got to direct Amitabh Bachchan in his debut film ‘Aks’. Though ‘Aks’ bombed badly at the box-office but Rakeysh got noticed for his technical brilliance. Five years later he made ‘Rang De Basanti’ which helped him climb up the popularity charts. He followed this up with his 100-Cr grosser sports biopic ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ in 2013. Rakeysh figures in the list of top Bollywood director’s.

Director Aanand L. Rai’s big ticket to fame was the Madhavan-Kangana Ranaut starrer ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ which he dared to release during the 2011 cricket world cup. Before ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ turned out to be the sleeper hit of that year, Aanand had directed forgettable films like ‘Strangers’ and ‘Thodi Life Thoda Magic’. With ‘Raanjhanaa’ and ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ making big bucks at the ticket counters, the director is all set to direct SRK in his next.

Director Shoojit Sircar is a director who rose up the ranks to become one of Bollywood’s top notch director’s. Though he started his directorial debut with the sensitive ‘Yahaan’ in 2005 which gained critical reviews but it was ‘Vicky Donor’ in 2012 that set the ball rolling for him. He followed this up by making ‘Madras Café’ and ‘Piku’ which made people take notice of him. His thought-provoking production ‘Pink’ has made him the ‘coming of age’ filmmaker.