Aanand L. Rai | |
---|---|
Born | 1970/1971(age 53–54) Delhi, India |
Occupation(s) | Film director, film producer |
Years active | 2007–present |
Aanand L. Rai (born 1970/1971 [1] ) is an Indian film director and producer known for directing the romantic comedy-dramas Tanu Weds Manu (2011) and its sequel Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015), and the romantic drama Raanjhanaa (2013), with the latter two earning him nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.
He then directed the big-budget romantic drama Zero (2018), the romantic fantasy comedy-drama Atrangi Re (2021) and the family comedy-drama Raksha Bandhan (2022).
Rai was born and brought up in Delhi. After his schooling in Delhi, he did his computer engineering from Aurangabad, Maharashtra. [1]
His family's original surname was Raisinghani, and had shifted to Dehradun from Sindh, after partition of India in 1947. [1]
Rai started his career as an engineer, but soon left it and moved to Mumbai where he started assisting his elder brother television director Ravi Rai in various television series. After gaining substantial experience, he moved on to directing his own shows. [1] [2]
He made his directorial debut with the psychological thriller Strangers (2007) starring Jimmy Shergill, Kay Kay Menon, Nandana Sen, Sonali Kulkarni. The film was based on Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951). The film received negative reviews from critics, and emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office. [3] Similar was the fate of his next film, Thodi Life Thoda Magic (2008) starring Jackie Shroff and Parmeet Sethi. [4]
In 2011, he started his production house, Colour Yellow Productions, which helmed all his future production ventures. [5]
The same year, he achieved his breakthrough with the romantic comedy-drama Tanu Weds Manu (2011) starring R. Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut in lead roles. The film emerged as his first commercial success, grossing ₹56 crore worldwide. [6] [7] It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics upon release, with particular praise for its novel concept and screenplay. The film was the first instalment of the Tanu Weds Manu franchise.
In 2013, he directed the romantic drama Raanjhanaa , starring Dhanush in his Bollywood debut alongside Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol and Swara Bhasker in lead roles. [8] The film emerged as his second consecutive commercial success at the box-office, grossing ₹94 crore worldwide, ranking as the tenth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. [9] It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics upon release, with particular praise for its writing and direction. Raanjhanaa earned Rai his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.
In 2015, Rai directed the romantic comedy-drama Tanu Weds Manu Returns , the sequel to Tanu Weds Manu, with all the cast members reprising their roles from the first instalment. The film opened to widespread critical acclaim upon release, and emerged as his third consecutive commercial success. It grossed ₹243.6 crore worldwide and emerged as a blockbuster at the box-office, [10] ranking as the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, and was the highest-grossing female-lead film in India at the time of its release. [11] Tanu Weds Manu Returns earned Rai his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.
His next directorial was the big-budget romantic drama Zero (2018) starring Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. The film tells the story of a love triangle between a dwarf man, a scientist with cerebral palsy, and an alcoholic actress. Despite high hype prior to release due to its A-list star-cast and Rai's previous successful ventures, the film emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office, and received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. [12]
In 2021, he directed the romantic fantasy comedy-drama Atrangi Re starring Dhanush, Sara Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in lead roles. Delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India and rescheduled multiple times due to the nationwide lockdown due to the pandemic, the film was released on Disney+ Hotstar, bypassing theatrical release. It opened to mixed reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its unconventional plot, but criticism for its incoherent screenplay and execution of overall storyline.
In 2022, he directed Kumar again alongside Bhumi Pednekar in the family comedy-drama Raksha Bandhan . The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, and emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office. [13]
Rai is next set to direct the standalone sequel to Raanjhanaa, titled Tere Ishk Mein, which is set to release in 2024.
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Strangers | Yes | ||
2008 | Thodi Life Thoda Magic | Yes | ||
2011 | Tanu Weds Manu | Yes | ||
2013 | Raanjhanaa | Yes | ||
2015 | Tanu Weds Manu: Returns | Yes | ||
2016 | Nil Battey Sannata | Yes | ||
2016 | Happy Bhag Jayegi | Yes | ||
2017 | Shubh Mangal Saavdhan | Yes | ||
2018 | Mukkabaaz | Yes | ||
2018 | Meri Nimmo | Yes | ||
2018 | Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi | Yes | ||
2018 | Manmarziyaan | Yes | ||
2018 | Tumbbad | Yes | ||
2018 | Zero | Yes | Yes | |
2019 | Laal Kaptaan | Yes | ||
2020 | Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan | Yes | ||
2021 | Haseen Dillruba | Yes | ||
2021 | Atrangi Re | Yes | Yes | |
2022 | Good Luck Jerry | Yes | ||
2022 | Raksha Bandhan | Yes | Yes | |
2023 | Jhimma 2 | Yes | Marathi film | |
Rakesh Roshan is an Indian film producer, director, screenwriter and actor who works in Hindi films. He had appeared in 84 films throughout the 1970s and 1980s until 1989. As an actor, he was mostly known for his supporting roles in big-budget films. Later, his prominence increased, and he achieved fame for directing films with titles beginning with the letter "K" since 1987.
Ashutosh Gowariker is an Indian film director, actor, screenwriter and producer who works in Hindi cinema. He is known for directing films "set on a huge canvas while boasting of an opulent treatment".
Kunal Kohli is an Indian film director, producer, writer and actor in Bollywood. He is best known for directing the romantic comedy Hum Tum (2004), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Director, and the romantic thriller Fanaa (2006).
Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja, known professionally as Dhanush, is an Indian actor, filmmaker, lyricist and playback singer who primarily works in Tamil cinema. Having starred in 50 films over his career, his accolades include four National Film Awards, fourteen SIIMA Awards, eight Filmfare Awards South and a Filmfare Award. One of the highest paid actors in Indian cinema, he has been included in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list six times.
Sooraj R. Barjatya is an Indian filmmaker who works in Hindi cinema. He has directed and produced some of the most commercially successful Hindi films. His films often include themes of familial ties and values, and are rooted in traditional Indian culture. Barjatya is the chairman of Rajshri Productions, which was formed by his late grandfather Tarachand Barjatya in 1947.
Dharmesh Darshan is an Indian filmmaker, film director and writer who works in Bollywood. He was born into Bhatt family. He began his illustrious career as one of the youngest filmmakers of Indian Cinema, in the league of Sooraj Barjatya, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He began his directorial career with the crime action film Lootere (1993). He achieved his breakthrough and created box-office history with the romantic drama Raja Hindustani (1996), He then directed the musical romantic drama Dhadkan (2000), another critical and commercial success.
Tanu Weds Manu is a 2011 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy drama by Aanand L. Rai, and produced by Shailesh R Singh. It stars R. Madhavan, Kangana Ranaut, Jimmy Sheirgill, Eijaz Khan, Swara Bhaskar and Deepak Dobriyal. The story of the film has been written by Himanshu Sharma, the music was directed by Krsna Solo, and the lyrics were penned by Rajshekhar.
Ayan Mukerji is an Indian filmmaker who works in Hindi films. A member of the Mukherjee-Samarth family, he is known for his collaborations with actor Ranbir Kapoor under Karan Johar's production banner Dharma Productions.
Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub Khan is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films. He is frequently cast in supporting roles, and has appeared in more than 25 films in a career which has spanned eight years. He has also worked in a Hindi serial "Kyunki... Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai" which was telecasted on Doordarshan in 2008. He has collaborated with director Aanand L. Rai on four films.
Raanjhanaa is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Aanand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma. The film is produced by Krishika Lulla under the banner of Eros International. It stars Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Swara Bhaskar. The film was released on 21 June 2013 worldwide, while the Tamil version is titled Ambikapathy was released a week later.
Swara Bhasker is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. Best known for her supporting work in mainstream productions and starring roles in independent films, she has won two Screen Awards and has received four Filmfare Award nominations.
Himanshu Sharma is an Indian film writer and producer who works in Hindi cinema. He is most well known as the writer of the Tanu Weds Manu series, for which he received two National FIlm Awards, and Raanjhanaa (2013), all of which were considered highly successful domestically.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns is a 2015 Indian romantic comedy film directed by Aanand L. Rai, and is a sequel to the 2011 film Tanu Weds Manu. R. Madhavan, Kangana Ranaut, Jimmy Sheirgill, Deepak Dobriyal, Swara Bhaskar, and Eijaz Khan reprise their roles from the original film. Ranaut also portrays an additional role of a Haryanvi athlete in the sequel. The story, screenplay and the dialogues were written by Himanshu Sharma. The soundtrack and film score were composed by Krsna Solo and the lyrics were penned by Rajshekhar. Saroj Khan and Bosco–Caesar were the film's choreographers while the editing was done by Hemal Kothari.
Krishika Lulla is an Indian film producer. She made her foray into producing films with 2010s romantic film Anjaana Anjaani, a co-production with Sajid Nadiadwala, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. In December 2010, India's first live action animation film Toonpur Ka Superrhero was released, with Krishika at the helm as producer.
Colour Yellow Productions is an Indian motion picture production company founded by filmmaker and film producer Aanand L. Rai.
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari is an Indian film director and writer. After working in advertising for several years, she made her debut by directing the comedy-drama Nil Battey Sannata (2016). The film garnered great reviews and Tiwari went on to direct its Tamil remake entitled Amma Kanakku. She had previously served as the Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett before she moved on to pursue a filmmaking career. Tiwari won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for the romantic comedy-drama Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017).
Shailesh R Singh is an Indian film producer known for his works exclusively in Hindi cinema. In his 12-year career span, he has produced both commercially & critically acclaimed films.
Atrangi Re is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language romantic fantasy comedy drama film directed by Aanand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma. Produced by T-Series Films, Colour Yellow Productions and Cape of Good Films, the film stars Dhanush, Sara Ali Khan, and Akshay Kumar in the lead roles. The film tells the story of a girl named Rinku who is in love with a magician named Sajjad. She gets forcefully married to Dr. Vishu. Vishu soon falls in love with Rinku but the love triangle gets weirder when Sajjad shows up.
Raksha Bandhan is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language family comedy-drama film directed by Aanand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma and Kanika Dhillon. It stars Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, Sadia Khateeb, Sahejmeen Kaur, Smrithi Srikanth and Deepika Khanna.