Samyakkpravesh at 00:56, 5 December 2025

2025-12-05T00:56:24Z

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{{Short description|Indian filmmaker}}
{{Multiple issues|{{BLP sources|date=September 2017}}{{fan POV|date=April 2017}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
| image = Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari attends the 63rd Jio Filmfare Awards 2018 (05).jpg
| caption = Tiwari in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1979|10|15}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|writer|producer}}
| notable_works = {{ubl|''[[Break Point (2021 TV series)|Break Point]]''|''[[Bareilly Ki Barfi]]''|''[[Panga (film)|Panga]]''|''[[Nil Battey Sannata]]''}}
| spouse = [[Nitesh Tiwari]]
| children = 2
}}

'''Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari''' (born 15 October 1979) is an Indian film director and writer. After working in advertising for several years, she made her debut by directing the comedy-drama ''[[Nil Battey Sannata]]'' (2016). The film garnered great reviews and Tiwari went on to direct its Tamil remake entitled {{Lang|ta-latn|[[Amma Kanakku]]}}. She had previously served as the Executive Creative Director at [[Leo Burnett]] before she moved on to pursue a filmmaking career. Tiwari won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]] for the romantic comedy-drama ''[[Bareilly Ki Barfi]]'' (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari: Director With A Purpose|url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/self-made-women-2020/ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-director-with-a-purpose/58149/1|access-date=24 November 2020|website=Forbes India|language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and background==
Ashwiny Iyer was born on 15 October 1979 in a Tamil speaking family and grew up in the suburb of [[Mulund]], Mumbai. She studied at [[St. Mary's Convent High School, Mulund]] and did her higher studies from [[SIES College of Commerce and Economics]]. She is married to writer-director [[Nitesh Tiwari]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/advertising/advertisings-classic-love-stories-nitesh-tiwari-and-ashwiny-iyer-tiwari/50910139 |title=Advertising's classic love stories: Nitesh Tiwari and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Marketing & Advertising News, ET BrandEquity |publisher=Brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=9 February 2016 |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/dangal-working-with-aamir-khan-dream-come-true-for-any-director-ashwini-iyer-tiwari-2762345/ |title=Working with Aamir Khan dream come true for any director: Ashwini Iyer Tiwari |work=The Indian Express|date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref>

==Career==
===Advertising===
A gold medalist in commercial arts from [[Sophia Polytechnic]], Mumbai, Ashwiny spent 15 years in the advertising agency Leo Burnett (India). She won several awards like [[Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity|Cannes Lions]], New York festival, One show, [[Promax Awards|Promax]] and the Goafest Awards. She quit Leo Burnett to follow her passion in filmmaking.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari exits Leo Burnett {{!}} Advertising|url=https://www.campaignindia.in/article/ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-exits-leo-burnett/419754|access-date=24 November 2020|website=Campaign India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/story/39084_Ashwiny-Iyer-Tiwari-bids-adieu-to-Leo-Burnett |title=Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari bids adieu to Leo Burnett |date=30 October 2013 |publisher=Afaqs.com |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref>

===Films===

==== Work on short films and directorial debut (2012-2016) ====
Iyer made her first short film ''What's for Breakfast'' in 2012. In 2016, she made her feature film directorial debut with the comedy-drama ''[[Nil Battey Sannata]]'' starring [[Swara Bhasker]] in the lead role.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/Nil-Battey-Sannata/movie-review/51938384.cms?tabtype=box |title=Nil Battey Sannata Movie Box office collection report 2016|work=The Times of India|accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref> The film was produced by [[Colour Yellow Productions]] ([[Aanand L Rai]]) in association with [[JAR Pictures]] and Opticus Inc. and presented by [[Eros International]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Nil-Battey-Sannata-trailer-launched/articleshow/51509151.cms |title=Swara Bhaskar: 'Nil Battey Sannata' trailer launched|work=The Times of India|date=28 January 2017 |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref> Its story was inspired by a contestant from the [[Game show|quiz show]] ''[[Kaun Banega Crorepati]]'' hosted by [[Amitabh Bachchan]] which inspired many Indian viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/story/37703_KBC-Star-struck |title=KBC: Star-struck |date=7 June 2013 |publisher=Afaqs.com |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/grateful-to-aanand-l-rai-nil-battey-director-ashwini-iyer-tiwari-2809333/ |title=Grateful to Aanand L. Rai: 'Nil Battey Sannata' director Ashwini Iyer Tiwari |work=The Indian Express|date=19 May 2016 |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref> Released under the title of ''The New Classmate''<ref>{{cite web|author=Freja Dam |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/10/lff-2015-women-directors-meet-ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-the-new-classmate-213118/ |title=LFF 2015 Women Directors: Meet Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari – 'The New Classmate' |publisher=IndieWire |date=9 October 2015 |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=aanews |url=http://aapress.com/arts/the-new-classmate-tells-the-story-of-a-mothers-dream/ |title='The New Classmate' tells the story of a mother's dream | Asian American Press |publisher=Aapress.com |date=3 April 2016 |accessdate=21 April 2017 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220101205/http://aapress.com/arts/the-new-classmate-tells-the-story-of-a-mothers-dream/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> internationally, ''Nil Battey Sannata'' received positive reviews upon release, with praise for Tiwari's direction and sensitive handling of the subject matter.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bala |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/swara-bhaskar-wins-best-actress-title-in-china/ |title=Swara Bhaskar wins best actress title in China |work=The Indian Express|date=27 September 2015 |accessdate=21 April 2017}}</ref> The film emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nil Battey Sannatta - Movie - Box Office India |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3267 |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref> It earned Iyer the [[Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} She remade the film in Tamil as ''[[Amma Kanakku]]'' with [[Amala Paul]] in the lead role, which released on 24 June in the same year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Of-math-and-emotions/article14395253.ece |title=Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari on Nil Battey Sannata, star cast and more |newspaper=The Hindu |date= 22 June 2016|accessdate=21 April 2017|last1=Rao |first1=Subha J. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/240316/dhanush-persuaded-ashwiny-to-make-amma-kanakku.html |title=Dhanush persuaded Ashwiny to make Amma Kanakku |work=Deccanchronicle|date= 23 March 2016|access-date=21 April 2017}}</ref>

==== Success (2017-present) ====
Iyer achieved her breakthrough with the romantic comedy-drama ''[[Bareilly Ki Barfi]]'' (2017) starring [[Kriti Sanon]], [[Ayushmann Khurrana]] and [[Rajkummar Rao]] in lead roles. Based on Nicolas Barreau's novel ''The Ingredients of Love'', the film received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with high praise for its direction, screenplay, dialogue, soundtrack, setting and the performances of the cast. Devesh Sharma praised the film in his four stars out of five review for ''[[Filmfare]]''; he praised Tiwari for her versatility and wrote that the film, "will give you ample laughs throughout and you’ll walk away from the theatre with a satisfied smile on your face."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/bareilly-ki-barfi-movie-review-a-quirky-comedy-that-will-leave-you-happy-23139.html |title=Movie Review: Bareilly Ki Barfi |publisher=[[Filmfare]]}}</ref> It emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, grossing over ₹60 crore (US$7.5 million) worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bareilly Ki Barfi - Movie - Box Office India |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3580 |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref> ''Bareilly Ki Barfi'' earned Iyer the [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Jha |first=Subhash |date=22 January 2018 |title=Filmfare awards swing away from the expected, honour the unexpected |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/filmfare-awards-swing-away-expected-honour-unexpected/ |accessdate=25 January 2018 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref>

In 2018, Iyer teamed up with [[Kangana Ranaut]], [[Neena Gupta]], [[Richa Chadda]] and [[Jassie Gill]] to make ''[[Panga (film)|Panga]]'', a film about a new-age family that challenges stereotypes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari announces Panga with Kangana Ranaut and Neena Gupta |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-panga-kangana-ranaut-neena-gupta-5316939/ |work=The Indian Express|accessdate=20 September 2018|date=21 August 2018 }}</ref> The film released on 24 January 2020 and was critically acclaimed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/reviews/panga-movie-review-kangana-ranaut-enlivens-ashwini-iyers-writing-soul-stirring-film-502469|title=Panga Movie Review: Kangana Ranaut enlivens Ashwini Iyer Tiwari's writing in this soul stirring film|website=PINKVILLA|date=24 January 2020 |language=en|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.mashable.com/entertainment/10805/panga-review-kangana-ranauts-sports-flick-is-female-empowerment-at-its-most-practical|title='Panga' Review: Kangana Ranaut's Sports Flick Is Female Empowerment at Its Most Practical|first=Pramit|last=Chatterjee |date=24 January 2020|website=Mashable India|language=en-in|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref> It was the [[List of Hindi films of 2020|tenth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year]].

She signed a two-film deal with [[Ekta Kapoor]]'s [[Balaji Motion Pictures]] from which one she will direct and another she will produce along with [[Ekta Kapoor|Ekta]].

She turned author with her debut fiction novel, titled ''Mapping Love''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/filmmaker-ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-turns-author-with-mapping-love/articleshow/80878570.cms|title=Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari turns author with 'Mapping Love'|website=[[The Times of India]] |date=12 February 2021}}</ref> which released on 1 August 2021 to glowing reviews.

Iyer is the co-founder of the production house, [[Earthsky Pictures]], under which she has produced [[Break Point (2021 TV series)|Break Point]], a docu-series based on Tennis legends, [[Leander Paes]] and [[Mahesh Bhupathi]], and several ad films.

She is also directing the life story of [[N. R. Narayana Murthy|Mr. Narayan Murthy]] and [[Sudha Murty|Mrs. Sudha Murthy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/director-ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-says-its-challenging-to-write-the-murthy-biopic/articleshow/75027588.cms|title=Director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari says it's challenging to write the 'Murthy' biopic|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=7 April 2020}}</ref>

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}
| Denotes films that have not yet been released
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Film
! Director
! Producer
! Co-writer
! Note(s)
|-
| 2013
| ''What's For Breakfast?''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| ''[[Nil Battey Sannata]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
| {{Lang|ta-latn|[[Amma Kanakku]]}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| Remake of ''Nil Battey Sannata'' in Tamil
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Bareilly Ki Barfi]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| ''[[Panga (film)|Panga]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
| ''Ghar Ki Murgi''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| Short film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| ''[[Ankahi Kahaniya]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|Anthology film; Released on [[Netflix]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-on-ankahi-kahaniya-abhishek-banerjee-short-netflix-anthology-film-7501618/|title=Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari on Ankahi Kahaniya: 'It was important to look inward and understand the idea of love'|date=11 September 2021}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Break Point (2021 TV series)|Break Point]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|Documentary series; Released on [[ZEE5|Zee5]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/break-point-directors-ashwiny-iyer-nitesh-tiwari-mahesh-bhupathi-leander-paes-7533018/|title=Break Point directors Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari: 'It felt as if we had known Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes forever'|date=1 October 2021}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|''[[Faadu (web series)|Faadu]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|Web series<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/story/ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-to-make-her-digital-debut-with-sonyliv-s-faadu-1784377-2021-03-27|title=Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari to make her digital debut with SonyLiv's Faadu|date=27 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |2023
|''[[Tarla]]''
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|Released on Zee5<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 2022 |title=Huma Qureshi transforms into home chef Tarla Dalal, see first photo |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/huma-qureshi-transforms-into-home-chef-tarla-dalal-see-first-photo-7876329/ |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Bawaal (2023)|Bawaal]]''
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|Released on [[Amazon Prime]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2022 |title=Bawaal first look: A dapper Varun Dhawan rides a bike in streets of Lucknow |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/bawaal-first-look-dapper-varun-dhawan-rides-bike-lucknow-streets-7874325/ |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Tumse Na Ho Payega (2023 film)|Tumse Na Ho Payega]]''
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|{{No}}
|Released on [[Disney+ Hotstar|Disney+Hotstar]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2022 |title=Ishwak Singh-Mahima Makwana to star in Bas Karo Aunty: 'Our film captures the mood and zeitgeist of the nation' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nitesh-tiwari-ashwiny-iyer-tiwari-announce-production-venture-bas-karo-aunty-7943968/ |access-date=21 June 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==Awards and honours==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;"
|- style="background:#B0C4DE;"
! Year
! Film
! Award
! Category
! Result
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Nil Battey Sannata]]''
| rowspan="2" | [[Filmfare Awards]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director|Best Debut Director]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2018
| rowspan="4" | ''[[Bareilly Ki Barfi]]''
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{won}}
|-
|[[International Indian Film Academy Awards|IIFA Awards]]
| [[IIFA Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Screen Awards]]
| [[Screen Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Zee Cine Awards]]
|[[Zee Cine Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{won}}
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name}}

{{Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestDirector}}
{{ZeeCineAwardBestDirector}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tiwari, Ashwiny Iyer}}

[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Women writers from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil-language film directors]]
[[Category:Indian women screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian women film directors]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Zee Cine Awards winners]]

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari - Revision history

Samyakkpravesh at 00:56, 5 December 2025