Initial work, debut and breakthrough: 2001-2010
Anand assisted director Kunal Kohli with the romantic comedy Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002) and was promoted to an associate for Kohli's Hum Tum (2004), for which, as executive producer, he also co-wrote the screenplay and dialogue. [7] He made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy-drama Salaam Namaste (2005), produced by Yash Raj Films, which stars Saif Ali Khan (who also starred in Hum Tum) and Preity Zinta in the lead roles. It received positive reviews from critics upon release and emerged as a commercial success. [8]
Anand's second directorial venture was the sports drama Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), which marked his third collaboration with Saif Ali Khan as well as Rani Mukerji (who also starred in Mujhse Dosti Karoge and Hum Tum). Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, it emerged as a moderate success. [9]
Anand's third directorial venture was the romantic comedy Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), which starred Ranbir Kapoor alongside Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone, and Minissha Lamba. The film opened to mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and emerged as a commercial success. [10] [11]
His fourth directorial venture, and first outside of Yash Raj Films, the romantic comedy-drama Anjaana Anjaani (2010), marked his second collaboration with Ranbir Kapoor, who starred opposite Priyanka Chopra. It received mixed-to-positive reviews and emerged as a commercial success. [12]
Later career: 2014-present
In 2014, Anand made his foray into the action genre with Bang Bang!, starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles. A remake of the 2010 American film Knight and Day, it opened to mixed reviews from critics; however, it emerged as a commercial success. [13] It was the year's fourth highest-grossing film and Anand's first film to reach the 100 crore club. [14]
Bang Bang! was followed by the action-thriller War (2019), which marked his first collaboration with Yash Raj Films since Bachna Ae Haseeno and starred Hrithik Roshan alongside Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor. It received positive reviews and emerged as the highest-grossing film of that year. [15]
In 2023, Anand directed the action thriller Pathaan (2023), which starred Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, and established the YRF Spy Universe. The film marked Khan's comeback to films following a four-year hiatus. [16] Pathaan emerged as a commercial success, breaking multiple records such as grossing ₹106 crore worldwide on its opening day, and entering the 1000 crore club internationally, emerging as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film domestically. [17] [18]
In 2024, Anand launched his production company, Marflix Pictures, where he directed and co-produced the aerial action thriller Fighter, which marked his third collaboration with Roshan and Padukone and first with Anil Kapoor. [19] Fighter received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and was the year's fourth highest-grossing film, emerging as a moderate commercial success. [20] In the same year, he also co-produced Jewel Thief , directed by Robbie Grewal, which starred Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat. [21]
His next directorial and production venture is King, which will star Shah Rukh Khan and his daughter, Suhana Khan, in her theatrical debut, and Abhishek Bachchan in the lead roles. [22] [23]
