Director
2005–present
Ayan Mukerji (born 15 August 1983) is an Indian film director who works in Hindi cinema. Mukerji made his directorial debut at the age of 26 with the coming-of-age comedy Wake Up Sid (2009), produced by Karan Johar. The film opened to strong reviews and box-office returns.[1][2] His next release, the 2013 musical romantic comedy-drama, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, ranks among the highest-grossing Hindi films ever.
Mukerji is from the prominent Mukherjee-Samarth family of Bollywood.
Early life and background
Mukerji was born in a Bengali family in Kolkata, India, the son of Bengali film actor Deb Mukherjee. His family was steeped in the Indian film industry since the 1930, when his grandfather, Sashadhar Mukherjee, first ventured by chance into the field. Sashadhar Mukherjee was a pioneering film producer who was one of the founding partners of Filmistan Studio in Mumbai, and produced films like Dil Deke Dekho (1959), Love in Simla (1960), Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962) and Leader (1964). The studio is still run by Ayan's extended family.[3][4]
Ayan's grandmother, Satidevi Mukherjee (née Ganguly), wife of Sashadhar Mukherji, was the sister of pioneer actor Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar and singer Kishore Kumar. Ayan's grandfather's brothers were film producer Prabodh Mukherjee, director Subodh Mukherjee and Ravindra Mohan Mukherjee, grandfather of actress Rani Mukherjee. Ayan's father's brothers were actors Joy Mukherjee, Deb Mukherjee, Subir Mukherjee and Shomu Mukherjee, who is the husband of actress Tanuja and father of actresses Kajol and Tanisha Mukherjee.[5][6]
Mukerji studied at Jamnabai Narsee School in Vile Parle, Mumbai. He later attended Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology but dropped out after the first year to become an assistant director to Ashutosh Gowariker on Swades (2004).[7]
Career
Mukerji started his career as an assistant to Ashutosh Gowariker, his brother-in-law, Swades, and later to Karan Johar on Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). After taking a short break from filmmaking, Mukerji wrote the screenplay for Wake Up Sid and gave it to Johar who decided it should become a film.[4] The film released in 2009, starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor in the lead roles and went on to become a critical and commercial success.[8] The film earned him a Best Director at Filmfare.
Mukerji's next film, also under Johar's banner Dharma Productions, was Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, with Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor in lead roles. It was a huge commercial success. The movie grossed Rs. 1 billion at the box-office in just 7 days. It became the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of all time.[9][10] The film earned him a second Best Director nomination at Filmfare.
Currently, Mukerji is involved in his next film, a superhero trilogy titled Brahmastra, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy and Nagarjuna.[11]
Although Mukerji belongs to a Bengali family, he said he will never make a Bengali film because it would not reach many people.[12]
Filmography
| Template:Dagger | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Wake Up Sid | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director (Shared with Zoya Akhtar for Luck by Chance) |
| 2013 | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | |
| TBA | Brahmāstra Template:Dagger | Template:Yes | Template:Yes | Filming[13] |
Actor
- Home Delivery (2005) - Cameo Appearance
- Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) - Cameo Appearance
- Luck by Chance (2009) – Special Thanks Credit
- Gippi (2013) – Special Thanks Credit
- Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) - Cameo Appearance
- Besharam (2013) – Special Thanks Credit
Awards
| Film | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Up Sid | 55th Filmfare Awards | Best Director | Template:Nom | [14] |
| Best Debut Director | Template:Won | |||
| Screen Awards | Most Promising Debut Director | Template:Nom | [15] | |
| Stardust Awards | Hottest New Director | Template:Won | [16] | |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | Best Debut Director | Template:Won | [17] | |
| Best Director | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Story | Template:Nom | |||
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Director | Template:Nom | [18] | |
| Best Story | Template:Nom | |||
| Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | 59th Filmfare Awards | Best Director | Template:Nom | [19] |
| BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Director | Template:Nom | [20] | |
| Star Screen Awards | Best Director | Template:Nom | [21] | |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | Best Director | Template:Nom | [22] | |
| Best Screenplay | Template:Nom | |||
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Director | Template:Won | [23] | |
| Best Screenplay | Template:Won | |||
| Best Story | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Dialogues | Template:Nom |
References
- ↑ Wake Up Sid wows critics and masses alike!(5 October 2009). Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ↑ B.O. update: 'Wake Up Sid', 'Do Knot Disturb' bring cheer. Bollywood Hungama(3 October 2009). Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ↑ Ayan Mukherjee wants to remake grandpa's 'Love in Simla'. The Times of India(17 May 2013). Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Waking up Ayan. MiD DAY(12 August 2009). Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ↑ In pics: Bollywood's Mukherjee-Samarth family tree. CNN-IBN. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ↑ Forever young(15 June 2010).
- ↑ The Pulp Prodigy.
- ↑ Trade Report Wake Up Sid wows critics and masses alike!. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ↑ Deepika, Ranbir together again. The Times of India(21 September 2011). Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ↑ Ranbir, Deepika share amicable equation: Ayan Mukerji. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ↑ Ranbir Kapoor To Play A Superhero in Ayan Mukerji's Next.
- ↑ Ayan Mukerji: Would love to make a Superman film.
- ↑ Brahmastra: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, 150 drones reveal first logo of Ayan Mukerji's ambitious film at Kumbh 2019. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ 3 Idiots shines at Filmfare Awards.
- ↑ Nominations for Nokia 16th Annual Star Screen Awards 2009(5 March 2010). Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ↑ Stardust Awards 2010: Winners List. www.merinews.com. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ↑ Hindi Awards Star Guild Awards 2010 | Nettv4u. nettv4u. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ↑ IIFA Awards 2010 Nominations announced - bollywood news : glamsham.com. www.glamsham.com. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ↑ Filmfare Awards 2014 nominations: Will Shahrukh Khan lose Best Actor to Dhanush?. India.com(21 January 2014). Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ↑ Nominations for 4th Big Star Entertainment Awards – Bollywood Hungama. Bollywood Hungama(12 December 2013). Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ↑ 20th Annual Screen Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees(1 March 2014). Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ↑ 9th Renault Star Guild Awards releases list of nominees. India Today(16 January 2014). Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ↑ Zee Cine Awards 2014: Winner's List. Zee News(24 February 2014). Retrieved 2 February 2018.