Amit raj at 06:15, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T06:15:52Z

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{{Short description|Indian film director (born 1986)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Anshul Chauhan
| image = Anshul Chauhan at JAPANNUAL 2023-portrait PNr°1079b.jpg
| caption = Chauhan in 2023
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1986}}
| birth_place = [[Mainpuri]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| alma_mater = [[Rashtriya Military School, Dholpur]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|producer|screenwriter|animator}}
| notable_works = ''[[Bad Poetry Tokyo]]'', ''[[Kontora]]'', ''[[December (2022 Japanese film)|December]]''
| spouse = Mina Moteki
}}

'''Anshul Chauhan''' (born 1986) is an Indian film director, producer, and former animator based in Japan. He is best known for directing films such as [[December (2022 Japanese film)|''December'']] (2022), ''[[Kontora]]'' (2019), and ''[[Bad Poetry Tokyo]]'' (2018). Beyond directing, Chauhan has also contributed as an animator to projects such as ''[[Final Fantasy XV]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy VII Remake]]'', and ''[[Tron: Uprising]]''.

== Early life and education ==
Chauhan was born in [[Mainpuri]], [[Agra]], in [[Northern India]] in 1986, one day after his grandfather had died.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Hadfield |first=James |date=18 March 2021 |title=Pushing against the grain of Japan's film industry |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2021/03/18/films/anshul-chauhan-kontora/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220061051/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2021/03/18/films/anshul-chauhan-kontora/ |archive-date=20 February 2025 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |language=en}}</ref> His father was a "strict military man" who schooled Chauhan at a military academy in [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wadhwa |first=Megha |date=18 March 2020 |title=An Indian take on making a Japanese film |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/03/18/films/indian-film-bad-poetry-tokyo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209113924/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/03/18/films/indian-film-bad-poetry-tokyo/ |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |language=en}}</ref> Chauhan went to university and studied geography.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Aiyar |first=Pallavi |date=28 March 2020 |title=The Indian who made a Japanese movie |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/the-indian-who-made-a-japanese-movie/article31194072.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221154250/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/the-indian-who-made-a-japanese-movie/article31194072.ece |archive-date=21 February 2025 |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He later developed an interest in animation and Japanese history after being influenced by his favourite anime, ''[[Naruto]]''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kuwahara |first=Rika |date=18 June 2020 |title=An Indian Filmmaker Brings a Unique Perspective to Japanese Cinema |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00871/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209101444/https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00871/ |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[Nippon.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
After graduating, Chauhan became an animator in 2006 and animated shows such as [[BBC]]'s children's show [[Everything's Rosie (TV series)|''Everything's Rosie'']] and [[Disney's]] ''[[Tron: Uprising]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eagen |first=Daniel |date=20 August 2023 |title=An Indian director's take on Japan's courtroom reality |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Arts/An-Indian-director-s-take-on-Japan-s-courtroom-reality |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522045300/https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Arts/An-Indian-director-s-take-on-Japan-s-courtroom-reality |archive-date=22 May 2025 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[Nikkei Asia]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was also part of the production of ''[[Delhi Safari]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anshul Chauhan |url=https://pro.festivalscope.com/director/anshul-chauhan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220060938/https://pro.festivalscope.com/director/anshul-chauhan |archive-date=20 February 2025 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=Festival Scope Pro}}</ref> After relocating to [[Tokyo]] in September 2011, He joined [[Square Enix]] and animated for video games such as ''[[Final Fantasy XV]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]'' along with animating TV shows such as [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 TV series)|''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'']].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Steen |first=Emma |date=5 April 2023 |title=Now showing: Anshul Chauhan's {{'}}''December''{{'}} is a compelling tale about grief and retribution |url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/now-showing-anshul-chauhans-december-is-a-compelling-tale-about-grief-and-retribution-040523 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807105222/https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/now-showing-anshul-chauhans-december-is-a-compelling-tale-about-grief-and-retribution-040523 |archive-date=7 August 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[Time Out Tokyo]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2016, Chauhan founded Kowatanda Films, his own production company, to start directing films.<ref name=":0" /> Initially, he only made [[short film]]s. He later went back to India to direct his first feature film with no intention to return to Japan, however, when he finished, he lost the film due to a faulty [[Hard disk drive|hard disk]] drive.<ref name=":1" /> He later moved back to Japan and directed his first feature film, ''[[Bad Poetry Tokyo]]'' (2018), which won him the Best Narrative Feature Film at the Venice Film Week and the Grand Prize for Best Film at the [[Brussels Independent Film Festival]].<ref name=":2" />

After making ''Bad Poetry Tokyo'', Chauhan was approached by a producer who asked him to write another script after being impressed by his film. Chauhan spent six to seven months writing a script about bullying at a [[Yokosuka]] military academy. However, the producer got scared and left after reading it, considering it to be anti-government.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Jason |first=Genki |date=15 July 2020 |title=Interview with ''Kontora'' Director Anshul Chauhan [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2020] |url=https://genkinahito.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/interview-with-kontora-director-anshul-chauhan-osaka-asian-film-festival-2020/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220061153/https://genkinahito.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/interview-with-kontora-director-anshul-chauhan-osaka-asian-film-festival-2020/ |archive-date=20 February 2025 |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=Genkinahito |language=en}}</ref> After this, Chauhan wrote his second feature film, ''[[Kontora]]'' (2019), which was the first Japanese release to win the Grand Prix Award for Best Film at the [[Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=13 February 2022 |title=Berlin: Japan-Based Filmmaker Anshul Chauhan Preps Court Room Drama {{'}}''December''{{'}} |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/berlin-japan-based-filmmaker-anshul-chauhan-preps-court-room-drama-december-1235092486/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807105221/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/berlin-japan-based-filmmaker-anshul-chauhan-preps-court-room-drama-december-1235092486/ |archive-date=7 August 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He stated that his inspiration for ''Kontora'' was from [[War diary|war diaries]] of Japanese soldiers.<ref name=":6" />

In 2022, Chauhan directed his third feature film, [[December (2022 Japanese film)|''December'']] (2022),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pryor |first=VN |date=6 August 2023 |title=NYAFF 2023: Interview With Anshul Chauhan, Director of ''DECEMBER'' |url=https://cinapse.co/2023/08/nyaff-2023-interview-with-anshul-chauhan-director-of-december/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209101430/https://cinapse.co/2023/08/nyaff-2023-interview-with-anshul-chauhan-director-of-december/ |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=[[Cinapse]]}}</ref> featuring [[Shogen (actor)|Shogen]] of [[Brillante Mendoza]]’s ''[[Gensan Punch]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopewell |first=John |date=28 April 2022 |title={{'}}''Gensan Punch''{{'}} Star, Producer Reteam with SC Films for {{'}}''December''{{'}} (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/sc-films-anshul-chauhan-shogen-december-1235243379/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807105222/https://variety.com/2022/film/global/sc-films-anshul-chauhan-shogen-december-1235243379/ |archive-date=7 August 2023 |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Production on the [[courtroom drama]] film began in February in Tokyo, and focused on a separated couple reuniting after the murderer of their daughter is given a retrial.<ref name=":8" /> ''December'' was nominated for the Kim Jiseok award at the [[27th Busan International Film Festival]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Teresa |first=Maria |date=2022-10-15 |title=BIFF Interview: Shogen, Nominee of Jiseok Awards 2 Years in a Row |url=https://www.hapskorea.com/biff-interview-shogen-nominee-of-jiseok-awards-2-years-in-a-row/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807105225/https://www.hapskorea.com/biff-interview-shogen-nominee-of-jiseok-awards-2-years-in-a-row/ |archive-date=2023-08-07 |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Haps Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, he announced that he was working on a new film titled ''[[Tiger (2025 film)|Tiger]]'', which would star [[Takashi Kawaguchi]], [[Maho Nonami]], and [[Yuya Endo]], that was planned to be released in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kotzathanasis |first=Panos |date=1 September 2024 |title=Anshul Chauhan's {{'}}''Tiger''{{'}} Kicks Off Filming with an ensemble cast |url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2024/09/anshul-chauhans-next-film-tiger-an-lgbt-drama-set-in-tokyo-kicks-off-filming-with-a-stellar-ensemble-cast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905192310/https://asianmoviepulse.com/2024/09/anshul-chauhans-next-film-tiger-an-lgbt-drama-set-in-tokyo-kicks-off-filming-with-a-stellar-ensemble-cast/ |archive-date=5 September 2024 |access-date=4 September 2024 |website=Asian Movie Pulse |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2025, ''Tiger'' had its international premiere at the [[30th Busan International Film Festival]]. It features LGBTQ+ themes and is his fourth film to be set in Japan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kotzathanasis |first=Panos |date=19 August 2025 |title=Anshul Chauhan’s new film ''TIGER'', an LGBTQ+ Drama Set in Tokyo, to premiere at Busan International Film Festival 2025 |url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2025/08/anshul-chauhans-new-film-tiger/ |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=Asian Movie Pulse}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> It won the Hylife Vision Award at Busan in the "Visions – Asia" category.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kim |first=Ji-hye |date=August 19, 2025 |title=BIFF, '비전 - 한국, 아시아' 선정작 23편 공개…독립영화의 새로운 가능성 |trans-title=BIFF unveils 23 films selected for its "Vision - Korea, Asia" program, showcasing new possibilities for independent films. |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/movie/article/416/0000316340 |access-date=August 20, 2025 |work=SBS Entertainment News |publisher=Naver |language=ko}}</ref>

In November 2025, Chauhan established Kowatanda Films India, an Indian branch of his production company; it is run by Chauhan, Mina Moteki, and Sohrab Bozorgchami. Kowatanda Films India will collaborate with actress [[Shweta Tripathi]] and her production company Bandarful Films on ''[[Nava (film)|Nava]]'', a horror film. It will be his first film in India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=24 November 2025 |title=Anshul Chauhan Launches Kowatanda Films India, Partners With Shweta Tripathi on Horror Feature {{'}}''Nava''{{'}} (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/anshul-chauhan-shweta-tripathi-horror-feature-nava-1236591449/ |access-date=15 January 2026 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===

==== As director and producer ====
[[File:JAPANNUAL 2023 in the Filmcasino in Vienna, Austria - Anshul Chauhan interview-talk rh PNr°1074.jpg|thumb|Chauhan in an interview at the ''JAPANNUAL 2023'' film festival for his feature film ''December'']]

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Notes
!{{Abbr|Refs.|References}}
|-
|2012
|''Tokyo Apple''
|[[Short film]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|''Soap''
|Short film
|<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kotzathanasis |first=Panos |date=18 May 2020 |title=Interview with Anshul Chauhan: I think people tend to mistake love for romance |url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2020/05/interview-with-anshul-chauhan/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=Asian Movie Pulse |language=en-US |archive-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211030634/https://asianmoviepulse.com/2020/05/interview-with-anshul-chauhan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|''What's Left of Us''
|Short film
|
|-
|2017
|''Kawaguchi 4256''
|Short film
|<ref name=":4" />
|-
|2018
|''[[Bad Poetry Tokyo]]''
|[[Feature film]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schilling |first=Mark |date=16 January 2020 |title={{'}}''Bad Poetry Tokyo''{{'}}: Indian director's first feature reveals major talent |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/01/16/films/film-reviews/bad-poetry-tokyo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211030634/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2020/01/16/films/film-reviews/bad-poetry-tokyo/ |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|''[[Kontora]]''
|Feature film
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
|2021
|''Leo's Return''
|Short film
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kotzathanasis |first=Panos |date=21 August 2021 |title=Short Film Review: ''Leo's Return'' (2021) by Anshul Chauhan |url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2021/08/short-film-review-leos-return-2021-by-anshul-chauhan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211030634/https://asianmoviepulse.com/2021/08/short-film-review-leos-return-2021-by-anshul-chauhan/ |archive-date=11 December 2023 |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=Asian Movie Pulse |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|''[[December (2022 film)|December]]''
|Feature film
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Tiger (2025 film)|Tiger]]''
| Feature film
| <ref name=":7">{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/445/0000331533 |title= 부산국제영화제, 신예→중견 감독 총출동...독립영화 23편 공개 |trans-title=The Busan International Film Festival will feature a diverse lineup of directors, from newcomers to established stars, and will premiere 23 independent films. |author=Kwon Na-hyun |work=MHN Sports |publisher=Naver|date=August 19, 2025|access-date=August 20, 2025 |language=ko}}</ref>
|}

==== As animator ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Notes
!{{Abbr|Refs.|References}}
|-
|2011
|''Lego Hero Factory: Savage Planet''
|Animator
| rowspan="6" |<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Anshul Chauhan {{!}} Director, Producer, Animation Department |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6356973/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=IMDb |language=en-US |archive-date=7 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807154709/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6356973/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
|''[[Delhi Safari]]''
|Animator
|-
|''[[Gladiators of Rome (film)|Gladiators of Rome]]''
|Animator
|-
|2015
|''[[Guardians of Oz]]''
|Animator
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|''[[Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV]]''
|Animator
|-
|''[[Gantz: O]]''
|Animator
|}

=== Television ===

==== As animator ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Notes
!{{Abbr|Refs.|References}}
|-
|2007–08
|''Back at the Backyard''
|[[Animator]]; 5 episodes
| rowspan="8" |<ref name=":5" />
|-
|2008
|''[[Farmkids|FarmKids]]''
|Animator; 4 episodes
|-
|2011
|''[[Everything's Rosie (TV series)|Everything's Rosie]]''
|Lead animator; 26 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
|''[[Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot]]''
|Animator; 26 episodes
|-
|''[[Tron: Uprising]]''
|Animator; 15 episodes
|-
|2013
|''[[Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures]]''
|Animator; 11 episodes
|-
|2014–15
|''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 TV series)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]''
|Animator; [[layout artist]]; 12 episodes
|-
|2018
|''[[Record of Grancrest War]]''
|Animator; 3 episodes
|}

=== Video games ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Notes
!{{Abbr|Refs.|References}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
|''[[UFC Undisputed 3]]''
|Animator
| rowspan="5" |<ref name=":5" />
|-
|''[[Skylanders: Giants]]''
|Animator
|-
|2016
|''[[Final Fantasy XV]]''
|Animator
|-
|2019
|''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''
|Animator
|-
|2020
|''[[Final Fantasy VII Remake]]''
|Animator
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb name|id=6356973}}
* [https://www.kowatanda.com/ Kowatanda Films website]
{{Anshul Chauhan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chauhan, Anshul}}
[[Category:Indian film directors]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Date of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Indian producers]]
[[Category:Indian animators]]
[[Category:People from Mainpuri]]

Anshul Chauhan - Revision history

Amit raj at 06:15, 26 February 2026