Siddharth Anand

Siddharth Anand is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for directing the action thriller films: Bang Bang! (2014), War (2019), and Pathaan (2023). Pathaan became the second highest grossing Hindi film worldwide, excluding China, and broke the record for the highest grossing opening weekend for a Hindi film, bringing in 600 crores in its first weekend. His next film, Fighter, will be his third collaboration with Hrithik Roshan.

He has also scripted and directed romantic comedy films, including Salaam Namaste (2005), Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), and Anjaana Anjaani (2010).

Early and personal life 
Anand was born on 31 July 1978. His father was Bittu Anand, the producer of Shahenshah (1988). His paternal grandfather is writer Inder Raj Anand. He is married to Mamta Anand (née Bhatia) and has a son, Ranveer. Along with his wife, he owns and runs a production house called Marflix Pictures.

Career 
After working as an assistant director on Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001) and Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002), Anand began his career in films as the screenplay co-writer, executive producer, and associate director for the romantic comedy Hum Tum (2004). His directorial debut was the modern romantic comedy Salaam Namaste (2005), which emerged as the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year, and the highest-grossing Indian film of the year in overseas markets. Made on a budget of Rs. 10 crores, Salaam Namaste earned over Rs. 57 crores worldwide and over Rs. 26 crores net domestically in India. In 2007, he directed the Khan-Mukerji sports drama Ta Ra Rum Pum. Made on a final budget of 25 crores, Ta Ra Run Pum earned over 70 crores worldwide and over 39 crores net domestically in India.

This was followed by the commercially successful and critically acclaimed Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008). Made on a final budget of 23 crores, Bachna Hai Haseeno earned over 62 crores worldwide and over 37 crores net domestically in India. In 2010, he directed Anjaana Anjaani, which was made on a budget of 40 crores; the film earned over 70 crores Worldwide and over 41 crores net domestically in India. 

In 2014, he pivoted into action with Bang Bang. Made on a final budget of 140 crores, Bang Bang earned over 352 crores Worldwide and over 181 crores net domestically in India with an opening day collection of 27.54 crores net domestically in India, which was one of Bollywood’s most successful opening day collections of the Year. Thus was Siddharth Anand’s first movie to enter the 100 Crore Club.

Anand followed Bang Bang with War (2019). A part of the YRF Spy Universe, War was the first action film to be shot in the Arctic Circle. War at that time established a record of having the highest opening day collection made by a Bollywood Movie in India of over 53.35 crores net domestically in India. It broke all opening day and weekend box-office records for a Bollywood film until it was surpassed by Anand’s Pathaan (2023). War eventually became a Major Blockbuster Success and with a total worldwide gross of ₹476 crore (US $67.45 million), and over 318 crores net domestically in India, thus entering the 300 Crore Club in India/Bollywood, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2019 and the 17th highest-grossing Indian film of all time. His latest release Pathaan (2023) is a part of the same universe. This film was considered to be Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback film after a short hiatus. He is the only director to have conceptualized and directed two films of this universe, with War and Pathaan being the third and fourth films in the YRF Spy Universe.

With Pathaan, Anand has set records including delivering the all-time highest grossing Bollywood film net domestically and the second worldwide highest grossing Bollywood film (excluding China), highest grossing Hindi film domestically, highest grossing YRF's Spy Universe film, the fastest Hindi movie to gross 500+ crore, and highest single-day collection for any Indian film. Anand became the only Hindi film director to have delivered five 50+ crore net box office days and five 100+ crore worldwide gross box office days. Pathaan also established a record of having the highest opening day collection made by a Bollywood movie in India of over 57 crores net domestically in India and over 106 crores worldwide. Pathaan has earned over 1058 Crores worldwide, thus entering the 1000 Crore Club Worldwide and over 543 crores net domestically in India thus entering the 500 Crore Club in India/Bollywood.

He is known for his frequent collaborations with the songwriting duo Vishal-Shekhar, putting out songs such as "Ghungroo" and "Besharam Rang".

Spy Universe Maker 
After receiving postive talk from War, Anand decided to convert the film into a franchise. As following events of film Pathaan, Aditya Chopra and Anand began developing Spy Universe. Anand developed two projects in the past and will develop in one more project titled Tiger vs Pathaan.

Filmography

As assistant director
 Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001)
 Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002)
 Hum Tum (2004)

Television

References

External links 
 

21st-century Indian film directors
Hindi-language film directors
Indian male screenwriters
Living people
Place of birth missing (living people)
Indian filmmakers
1978 births