If you are an Indian audience, like others, you might also demand action, comedy, drama, and romance from a single Hindi movie. Besides, unlike Hollywood films, Hindi movies have 3 to 5 songs that might or might not suit the film’s theme. The director tries to satisfy the viewers, and this is where we know that directing Bollywood movies isn’t a cup of tea. Fortunately, here we have listed the 25 best Bollywood directors who won fans’ hearts with their direction.
Table of Contents
List of Best Bollywood Directors
Check out the 25 Hindi film directors whose films you should watch at least once.
1. Yash Chopra
Best Films: Deewar, Lamhe, Veer-Zara, Kabhie Kabhie, Chandni, Darr, Dil Toh Pagal Hain, Silsila, Jaab Taak Hain Jaan, etc.
Yash Chopra is one of the top Bollywood directors and founding chairman of the film production and distribution company Yash Raj Films. He was best known for his female-based romantic film. Chopra received several awards, including 6 National Film Awards and 8 Filmfare Awards. In 2006, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts gave him a lifetime membership, making him the first Indian to receive the honour.
2. Bimal Roy
Best Films: Madhumati, Do Bigha Zameen, Devdas, Bandini, Parakh, Sujata, Parineeta, etc.
Bimal Roy is one of the best Bollywood directors of all time. He is best known for his socialistic and realistic movies, including Do Bigha Zamin, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Devdas, Madhumati, Sujata, Parakh, and Bandini, making him an important director of Hindi cinema. Roy won several awards throughout his career, including two National Film Awards, eleven Filmfare Awards, and more.
3. Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Best Films: Guddi, Anand, Chupke Chupke, Namak Haraam, Abhimaan, Khoobsoorat, Milk, Gol Maal, etc.
We include Hrishikesh Mukherjee in the top 10 directors in the Bollywood list. Mukherjee is best known as Hrishi-da, who directed over 42 films during his career and is named the pioneer of India’s ‘middle cinema’. He is best known for his social films that reflect social issues. He was honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1999) and Padma Vibhushan (2001).
4. Raj Kapoor
Best Films: Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Bobby, Prem Rog, Awara, Shree 420, Mera Naam Joker, etc
Raj Kapoor was a famous director in Bollywood. He was an Indian actor, producer, and director who worked in Hindi-language films. He is considered one of the greatest and most influential actors and filmmakers in the history of Indian cinema. Raj Kapoor received several awards throughout his career, including 3 National Film Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards in India.
5. Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Best Films: Khamoshi, Padmavaat, Chuke Sanam, Hum Dil De, Black, Devdas, Bajirao Mastani, etc.
Bollywood film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali made his directing debut with the romantic film Khamoshi (1996), which received the Filmfare Award for Best Film. He won several awards, including five National Film Awards, twelve Filmfare Awards, and a BAFTA nomination. In 2015, the Indian Govt honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award.
6. Rajkumar Hirani
Best Films: Sanju, 3 Idiots, PK, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, PK, etc.
Hindi film director Rajkumar Hirani is an Indian filmmaker, director, producer, and editor known for his works in Hindi films. He won many accolades, including four National Film Awards and eleven Filmfare Awards. Hirani is considered one of the most successful filmmakers of Indian cinema.
7. Shyam Benegal
Best Films: Ankur, Bhumika, Junun (1978), Mandi etc
Shyam Benegal -best known as the pioneer of parallel cinema. He is one of the best Bollywood directors post-1970s. Benegal has won numerous awards, such as eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and a Nandi Award. In 2005, Indian Govt honored him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award- India’s highest award in cinema.
8. Rajkumar Santoshi
Best Films: Ghayal, Damini, Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani, Ghayal, Ghatak,
Andaz Apna Apna, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, etc.
Rajkumar Santoshi is one of the famous Bollywood directors who debuted his directing with the Ghayal (1990) film. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Director. In 1993, he directed the Damini (1993) film that earned the Filmfare Best Screenplay Award.
9. Ashutosh Gowariker
Best Films: Lagaan, Swades, Jodhaa Akbar, and Mohenjo Daro
Ashutosh Gowariker is one of the best Hindi movie directors known for directing films “set on a huge canvas while boasting of an opulent treatment. His movie Lagaan was nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 74th Academy Awards, which makes him a voting member of the Academy Awards.
10. Guru Dutt
Best Films: Pyasaa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, etc
Guru Dutt was an Indian film director, actor, producer, and writer. He is known as one of the best Bollywood directors. Throughout his career, Dutt has directed a total of 8 Hindi films. His film Pyaasa (1957) made its way onto Time magazine’s 100 Greatest Movies list. In 2012, Dutt was included among CNN’s Top 25 Asian Actors.
11. Ram Gopal Varma
Best Films: Company, Kaun?, Satya, Shool, Rangeela, Sarkar, etc.
Ram Gopal Varma-best known as RGV, is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Hindi and Kannada language films. He has directed films in different genres, including parallel cinema and docudrama, noted for their gritty realism, technical finesse, and craft.
12. Ramesh Sippy
Best Films: Sholay, Shaan, Seeta Aur Geeta, etc.
Ramesh Sippy is one of the top Bollywood directors and is best known for directing the Sholay film, released in 1975. The film is one of the most influential Indian films ever made. In 2013, the Indian Govt honoured him with the Padma Shri Award. 2017 he founded the Ramesh Sippy Academy of Cinema & Entertainment in Mumbai.
13. Anurag Kashyap
Best Films: Ugly, Raman Raghav 2.0, Gangs of Wasseypur, Black Friday, Dev D, Gulaal, etc.
Anurag Kashyap is an Indian film director and actor who mainly works in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of many awards, including four Filmfare Awards. 2013 the France Govt honored him with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and letters).
14. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Best Films: Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Hindi film director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is best known for directing and writing Rang De Basanti (2006) and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) movies. He also directed music videos, including Aby Baby starring Amitabh Bachchan.
15. Subhash Ghai
Best Films: Kalicharan, Vishwanath, Karz, Hero, Vidhaata, Meri Jung, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Saudagar, Khalnayak, and Taal
Subhash Ghai is one of the famous Bollywood directors throughout the 80s and 90s. For his film Iqbal, Ghai won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues. In the same year, he established Whistling Woods International Film and Media Institution in Mumbai. In 2015, he won the IIFA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema.
16. Vishal Bhardwaj
Best Films: Omkara, 7 Khoon Maaf, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, Modern Love: Mumbai
Vishal Bhardwaj made his debut as a music composer with the Abhay film. In 1997, Bhardwaj won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent for Maachis. He later won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Godmother,
17. B.R. Chopra
Best Films: Naya Daur, Sadhna, Kanoon, Gumrah, Humraaz, Insaf Ka Tarazu, Nikaah, Awam, etc.
B.R. Chopra was one of the best Bollywood directors and is popular for directing Hindi-language movies such as Naya Daur, Humraaz, Nikaah, and Awam. He was the producer of the TV series Mahabharat in 1988. In the same year, he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in cinema, for 1998, and Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2001.
18. Mahesh Bhatt
Best Films: Raaz, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Saaransh, Zakhm, Arth, Sadak, etc.
Mahesh Bhatt is an Indian producer and film director known for his work in Hindi cinema. He directed the film Saaransh, released in 1984. The film was screened at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival and became India’s official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film that year. Later, he directed numerous films.
19. Sai Paranjape
Best Films: Sparsh, Katha, Chasme Buddoor, Disha, etc.
Sai Paranjape is a famous director in Bollywood and has directed many award-winning films, including Sparsh, Katha, Disha, Chasme Buddor, etc. Besides, she has written and directed numerous Marathi plays like Albel, Jaswandi, and Sakkhe Shejari. In 2006, the Indian Govt honoured her with the Padma Bhushan award.
20. Govind Nihalani
Best Films: Aakrosh, Aghaat, Drohkaal, Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa, Dev, etc.
Govind Nihalani is an Indian producer, screenplay writer, cinematographer, and film director known for his work in Hindi language films. Nihalani has received five Bollywood Filmfare Awards and six National Film Awards.
21. Manoj Kumar
Best Films: Upkar, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, etc.
Manoj Kumar is one of the most successful directors in Bollywood. He is best known for making patriotic films and was named Bharat Kumar. Manoj won seven Filmfare Awards and one National Film Award throughout his career. In 1992, he was awarded the Padma Shri, and in 2016, the Govt of India honoured him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
22. Rakesh Roshan
Best Films: Karan Arjun, Kaho Na Pyar Hain, Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish, etc.
Rakesh Roshan is an Indian actor, producer, screenplay writer, and director who worked as an actor in 84 films throughout the 70s and 80s until 1989. Later, his interest increased in achieving fame for directing films with titles beginning with the K letter.
23. Mani Ratnam
Best Films: Bombay (Tamil-Hindi bilingual film), Dil Se, Guru, Yuva, etc.
Gopalaratnam Subramaniam-professionally known as Mani Ratnam, is an Indian scriptwriter, producer, and film director who mainly works in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films. Mani Ratnam has won six Filmfare Awards South, National Film Awards, and four Filmfare Awards during his career. In 2002, he was honoured with the Padma Shri Award.
24. Zoya Akhtar
Best Films: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Gully Boy, Luck By Chance, etc.
Zoya Akhtar is one of the best Bollywood directors who began her career as an assistant director. Later, Zoya became a professional writer and director. She is the recipient of many awards, including five Filmfare Awards. In 2015, she, along with Reema Kagti, established Tiger Baby Films and directed films like Luck by Chance (2009), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), and Sheila Ki Jawani, a segment of Bombay Talkies (2013).
25. Priyadarshan
Best Films: Bhagam Bhaag, Malamaal Weekly, Hera Pheri, Virasat, Hungama, Hulchal, etc.
Indian film director Priyadarshan mainly works in Hindi and Malayalam language films. He first introduced rich colour grading, clear sound, and quality dubbing through his early Malayalam films. Priyadarshan started his career in the 80s and was active till the 90s in Malayalam films. In the 2000s, he started directing Bollywood films.
Conclusion: Best Bollywood Directors
Here, we have highlighted the best Bollywood directors who left a mark in the industry with their amazing skills. We collect the information from different websites and social media reports. However, these can be changed. Also, let us know if you think we have missed including your favourite director’s name in the list.
