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Rediff.com  » Movies » Looking at Bollywood's Director SIBLINGS
This article was first published 10 years ago

Looking at Bollywood's Director SIBLINGS

June 25, 2014 09:03 IST

Image: Arif and Imtiaz Ali
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Looking at the most famous director siblings in Bollywood.

Star siblings aren't found only in the acting arena of Bollywood. There have been some prominent director siblings as well.

The latest to join this prolific club are Imtiaz Ali and his younger brother Arif, who makes his directorial debut with Armaan Jain and Deeksha Seth starrer Lekar Hum Deewana Dil this July.

Here's looking at some of Bollywood's most illustrious star director siblings.

Please click NEXT for more.

The Khan siblings

Image: Farah and Sajid Khan
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Noted choreographer Farah Khan made her directorial debut with the immensely entertaining Main Hoon Na in 2004 while younger brother Sajid Khan struck gold with his own -- Heyy Babby in 2007 (technically, his debut was with Darna Zaroori Hai in 2006, in which he directed one of the six stories).

Their career graphs as directors have been somewhat similar.

After the initial success -- Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om, Farah's third film Tees Maar Khan was a bust.

Meanwhile, for Sajid, hits like Heyy Babby, Housefull 1 and 2 were followed by Himmatwala, a colossal flop. Humshakals, his latest release, opened to terrible reviews but has managed to do well at the box office.

The Kashyap brothers

Image: Anurag and Abhinav Kashyap
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Anurag and Abhinav Kashyap may be siblings but their brands of films couldn't be more radically different.

While Anurag has championed the hard-hitting, dark template with films like Dev D, Gangs of Wasseypur and Black Friday, Abhinav made his directorial debut with a certified crowdpleaser like Dabangg and went on to helm a box office disaster like Besharam starring Ranbir Kapoor.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Bela Sehgal

Image: Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Bela Sehgal
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Known for his opulent sets and imaginative visuals, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given us many memorable films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Black and, more recently, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela.

Meanwhile, his film editor sister Bela made her debut with the fun film Shirin Farhad Ki Nikal Padi in 2012.

The Akhtar siblings

Image: Farhan and Zoya Akhtar
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Both their films are distinctively urban and are written with great finesse. 

Farhan's movies like Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya and Don are slick while Zoya's films like Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara and her under-production film Dil Dhadakne Do have an ensemble cast.

The Shetty brothers

Image: Rohit and Hriday Shetty

Rohit Shetty is widely hailed as the most profitable director in Bollywood today, thanks to his blockbusters like Golmaal, Singham, Bol Bachchan and Chennai Express.

Unfortunately, his half brother Hriday Shetty's directorial career is yet to take off.

His last film Chaalis Chaurasi released and vanished with little fanfare.

Abbas-Mustan

Image: Abbas-Mustan

The all-white-wearing, snazzy thriller-making director duo Abbas and Mustan Burmawalla are inseparable not only on movie sets but also at social gatherings they attend.

Their last film, the multistarrer Race 2 followed hits like Race, Aitraaz and Baazigar.

The Mirza brothers

Image: Saeed and Aziz Mirza

Saeed Mirza, credited with making important films like Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro and Naseem, is the elder brother of Aziz Mirza.

The younger Mirza brother's films -- Yes Boss, Chalte Chalte, Kismet Konnection, among others -- have been of a more commercial persuasion. 

The Chopra brothers

Image: Yash Chopra and BR Chopra

Before Yash Chopra set up his production house Yash Raj Films in 1973 that would go on to become one of the biggest Bollywood entities today, he used to direct under his brother B R Chopra's prestigious banner. He started out making movies with social messages like Dhool Ka Phool and Daag: A poem Of Love, and went on to make beautiful romances like Chandni, Lamhe and Dil Toh Pagal Hai.

His elder brother B R Chopra is largely remembered for his movies like Naya Daur, Gumraah and Nikaah, among many other films, as well as the great Indian television show Mahabharat.

The Anand brothers

Image: Dev and Chetan Anand
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

While legendary leading man Dev Anand only took to direction in the later part of his film career, his brothers Chetan and Vijay Anand belted out many classics in their time.

While Chetan made films like Kala Bazaar, Funtoosh and Taxi Driver, Vijay Anand made Guide and Johny Mera Name.

Dev Anand's directorial debut Prem Pujari had opened to mixed reviews in 1970.