Siddharth Anand

Siddharth Raj Anand is an Indian filmmaker. He is the grandson of screenwriter Inder Raj Anand and is primarily known for his work with Yash Raj Films. He first became known for directing the successful romantic comedies Salaam Namaste (2005), Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) and Anjaana Anjaani (2010). He then established himself as a leading action filmmaker with Bang Bang! (2014) and the YRF Spy Universe films: War (2019) and Pathaan (2023). These films rank among the highest-grossing Hindi films.^[2]

Siddharth Anand
Occupations	Film director screenwriter producer
Years active	2001–present
Spouse	Mamta Bhatia
Children	1
Parent	Bittu Anand (father)
Relatives	Tinnu Anand (uncle)^[1] Inder Raj Anand (grandfather)

In 2021, Anand launched his own production company called Marflix. Its first release was the aerial action film Fighter (2024).

Early and personal life

Anand's father is Bittu Anand, the producer of the vigilante action film Shahenshah (1988). His paternal grandfather is writer Inder Raj Anand.^[3] He is married to Mamta Anand (née Bhatia) and has a son, Ranveer.^[4] Along with his wife, he owns and runs a production house called Marflix Pictures.^[5]

Career

Initial work (2001–2004)

After working as an assistant director on the comedy Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001) and the coming-of-age romantic comedy Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002), Anand began his film career as the screenplay co-writer, executive producer, and associate director for the romantic comedy Hum Tum (2004).

Directorial debut and rise to prominence with romantic comedies (2005–2010)

Anand made his directorial debut with Yash Raj Films' romantic comedy-drama Salaam Namaste (2005), starring Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta. The film tells the story of a cohabitating couple and their subsequent struggle with an unexpected pregnancy. It received positive reviews from critics upon release with major praise directed towards its bold storyline. That year, the film ranked as the third highest-grossing Indian film domestically as well as the highest-grossing Indian film in overseas markets.

Anand then wrote and directed the sports family drama Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), again starring Khan alongside Rani Mukerji. The film opened to mixed reviews from critics but emerged as a moderate commercial success. It ranked as the tenth highest-grossing Indian film of the year.

Around this time, he also directed the romantic comedy Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), starring Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone and Minissha Lamba. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and emerged as a commercial success at the box-office. It ranked as the eighth-highest grossing Indian film of the year.

His fourth directorial venture was the romantic comedy-drama Anjaana Anjaani (2010), again starring Kapoor opposite Priyanka Chopra. The film received positive reviews for its novel concept, soundtrack and cast performances and emerged as a commercial success at the box-office. It ranked as the ninth highest-grossing Indian film of the year.

Foray into action films (2014–present)

In 2014, Anand forayed into directing action films. His first venture was the action comedy Bang Bang (2014), starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif. The film was a remake of the American film Knight and Day (2010) and opened to mixed reviews from critics but later emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office. It ranked as the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of the year and was Anand's first film to enter the coveted Rs. 100 Crore (1,000,000,000) Club.

He followed Bang Bang with the action film War (2019), again starring Roshan alongside Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor. The film is part of the YRF Spy Universe and was the first film to be shot in the Arctic Circle.^[6] It received positive reviews upon release and emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of the year and the 17th highest-grossing Indian film of all time.

Continuing in the YRF Spy Universe, Anand's seventh film was the action thriller Pathaan (2023), starring Shah Rukh Khan, Padukone and John Abraham. This film marked Khan's comeback after a four-year hiatus.^[7] The film received positive reviews from critics upon release.

Anand is the only director with two films in the YRF Spy Universe. With Pathaan, Anand set multiples records including:

• all-time highest grossing Bollywood film net domestically
• second worldwide highest grossing Bollywood film (excluding China)^[8]
• highest grossing Hindi film domestically
• highest grossing YRF's Spy Universe film
• fastest Hindi movie to gross 500+ crore^[9]
• highest single-day collection for any Indian film^[10]

Anand is the only Hindi film director with five 50+ crore net box office days and five 100+ crore worldwide gross box office days. Pathaan established a Bollywood opening day record of over 57 crores net domestically and over 106 crores worldwide. The film earned over 543 crores net domestically and over 1058 Crores worldwide and thus respectively entered the 500 Crore Club in India/Bollywood and the 1000 Crore Club Worldwide.^[10][11]

Anand then started his own production house, Marflix, and directed its debut film Fighter (2024), an aerial action film, starring Padukone, Roshan and Anil Kapoor. The film serves as the first in a planned aerial action franchise.^[12][13]

Filmography

Year	Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Notes	Producers
2004	Hum Tum	No	Yes	Executive	Co-wrote screenplay with Kunal Kohli	Yash Raj Films
2005	Salaam Namaste	Yes	Yes	No
2007	Ta Ra Rum Pum	Yes	Story	No
2008	Bachna Ae Haseeno	Yes	No	No
2010	Anjaana Anjaani	Yes	Yes	No	Co-wrote screenplay with Advaita Kala^[14]	Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment
2014	Bang Bang!	Yes	Story Adaptation	No	Official remake of Knight and Day^[15]	Fox Star Studios
2019	War	Yes	Yes	No	Co-wrote story with Aditya Chopra. Co-wrote screenplay with Shridhar Raghavan. Third installment in the YRF Spy Universe.^[16]	Yash Raj Films
2023	Pathaan	Yes	Story	No	Fourth installment in the YRF Spy Universe^[17]
2024	Fighter	Yes	Story	Yes	Co-wrote story with Ramon Chibb. First installment in the Fighter franchise.^[18]	Viacom18 Studios Marflix Pictures

As assistant director

• Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001)
• Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002)
• Hum Tum (2004)

Television

Year	Title	Writer	Producer	Notes
2020	Flesh	Story	Yes	8 Episodes

Awards and nominations

List of Siddharth Anand awards and nominations

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result
Filmfare Awards
2020	Best Director	War	Nominated
2024	Best Director	Pathaan	Nominated
	Best Story		Nominated

References

1. Verma, Sukanya (25 January 2023). "The Man Behind Pathaan". Rediff. from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
2. "Bollywood Top Grossers Worldwide: All Time". Bollywood Hungama. from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
3. "My dad never wanted me to join Bollywood: Filmmaker Siddharth Anand". The Times of India. 24 May 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
4. Kane, Aditi Jayakar (15 October 2006). "Salaam, Ranveer!". Mumbai Mirror. from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
5. "Siddharth Anand Aims To Make His Marflix Production's 'Fighter' On Par With Hollywood Films - Sacnilk". www.sacnilk.com. 12 March 2023. from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
6. "War: Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff's actioner becomes first film to be shot in Arctic Circle". India Today. from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
7. "Pathaan: Why Shah Rukh Khan's comeback film is a big deal". BBC News. 20 January 2023. from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
8. "Exclusive KING Khan Shah Rukh Khan' Pathaan Becomes Highest Grossing Hindi Film Ever In Overseas Beating Dangal In 8 Days!". Box Office Worldwide. 1 February 2023. from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
9. "From ₹1000 crore to 40 Uninterrupted Days At Box Office; Pathaan Breaks All Records". HerZindagi English. 30 January 2023. from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
10. "50 days of Pathaan: 10 box office records set by Shah Rukh Khan's spy-action thriller". www.telegraphindia.com. from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
11. Jain, Vaishali (30 January 2023). "Pathaan Box Office: 17 Records broken by Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone & John Abraham's film". www.indiatvnews.com. from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
12. Hungama, Bollywood (4 December 2020). "BREAKING SCOOP: After War, Hrithik Roshan and Sidharth Anand to team up on FIGHTER – an aerial action thriller! : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
13. "Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone to star in Siddharth Anand's Fighter". The Indian Express. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
14. "Siddharth Anand to direct YRF's fourth film". India Today. from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
15. "Hrithik Roshan is showered with love by the Japanese on the release of his mega-actioner Bang Bang in Japan". PINKVILLA. 10 March 2023. from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
16. "Ahead of Pathaan, revisiting Siddharth Anand's War: The definitive action movie of a modern Bollywood". Hindustan Times. 24 January 2023. from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
17. "Siddharth Anand: Salman Khan jumped at the idea of a cameo in Pathaan because he loves Shah Rukh". Firstpost. 11 March 2023. from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
18. "Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone's Fighter gets pushed for the fourth time, announces new release date". The Indian Express. 28 October 2022. from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022. Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone starrer Fighter has a new release date. Hrithik took to social media on Friday to announce the date, January 25, 2024.

External links

• Siddharth Anand at IMDb