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Meet 2020's New Debutant Directors

March 18, 2020 16:56 IST

2019 was remarkable for Bollywood with as many as four directors entering the Rs 200 crore club.

2020 continued the tradition with debutant Om Raut scoring a huge success with Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.

There are, in fact, 10 directors all set to make their debut this year.

Will they score a century?

Joginder Tuteja lists those who are expected to score big with their Bollywood debuts in the weeks to come.

 

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl
Director: Sharan Sharma

IMAGE: Angad Bedi, Janhvi Kapoor and Sharan Saxena. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sharan Saxena/Instagram

After assisting Ayan Mukerji on Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and being the creative director of Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Sharan Saxena directs Dharma biopic, Gunjan Saxena -- The Kargil Girl.

This is Janhvi Kapoor's second feature film after Dhadak, and all eyes are on Sharan to deliver.

 

Jhund
Director: Nagraj Manjule

IMAGE: Nagraj Manjule with Amitabh Bachchan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Nagraj Manjule/Instagram

Nagraj Manjule, who created history with Sairat which went on to set multiple records for Marathi cinema, will make his Hindi film debut with Jhund.

And for that, he has cast none other than Amitabh Bachchan.

The film was supposed to release last year, but it may arrive this summer. Expect yet another heartwarming tale.

 

Laxmmi Bomb
Director: Raghava Lawrence

IMAGE: Akshay Kumar and Raghava Lawrence. Photograph: Kind courtesy Raghava Lawrence/Twitter

There was a time when it seemed that Raghava Lawrence would have to wait a while for his Bollywood debut.

The director of the Tamil horror comedy Kanchana had creative differences with the producers of Laxmmi Bomb, but all was well in the end and he returned as the man in charge.

Akshay Kumar has given breaks to many new directors and Raghava Lawrence will benefit too.

 

Indoo Ki Jawani
Director: Abir Sengupta

IMAGE: Monisha Advani, Kiara Advani, Abir Sengupta, Aditya Seal, Madhu Bhojwani and Nikkhil Advani. Photograph: Kind courtesy Emmay Entertainment/Twitter

Though he has a Bengali film Jomer Raja Dilo Bor to his credit, Abir Sengupta will go pan-India with Indoo Ki Jawani.

A naughty comedy, the film features Kiara Advani and Aditya Seal.

 

Bunty Aur Babli 2
Director: Varun V Sharma

IMAGE: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Sharvari, Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Yash Raj Films/Instagram

Varun V Sharma is busy wrapping up the sequel to Bunty Aur Babli.

He has been associated with Yash Raj Films in various capacities, right from being an assistant director on Tiger Zinda Hai to being a script supervisor on Sultan and Kill Dil.

This is going to be his big-ticket affair.

 

Shershaah
Director: Vishnuvardhan

 

IMAGE: Poster of Shershaah. Inset: Vishnuvardhan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Vishnuvardhan/Twitter

Yet another film-maker from down south who makes his Bollywood debut is Vishnuvardhan.

He has regional hits to his credit and now, Karan Johar brings him under the Dharma fold with Shershaah.

Sidharth Malhotra leads this patriotic action drama based on Kargil hero Vikram Batra's incredible courage.

 

Bhuj: The Pride Of India
Director: Abhishek Dudhaiya

IMAGE: Ajay Devgn in Bhuj: The Pride Of India. Photograph: Kind courtesy Abhishek Dudhaiya/Instagram

A long standing associate of Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty, Abhishek Dudhaiya has been an assistant director on films like Simmba, Golmaal Again, Shivaay and Son of Sardaar.

Now with Bhuj: The Pride Of India, he gets his big break.

Devgn is putting big bucks in his patriotic production, based on a true story that has been adapted by Abhishek.

 

Attack
Director: Lakshya Raj Anand

IMAGE: Lakshya Raj Anand, John Abraham and Rakul Preet. Photograph: Kind courtesy Lakshya Raj Anand/Instagram

Apart from his acting assignments, John Abraham is turning into an aggressive producer.

This can be seen in the manner he is announcing his productions and launching new directors.

Lakshya Raj Anand first assisted on John's New York and then went on to be associated with biggies like Bang Bang and Ek Tha Tiger.

Now, he debuts as a director with Attack.

 

Jersey
Director: Gowtam Tinnanuri

IMAGE: Shahid Kapoor. Inset: Gowtam Tinnanuri. Photograph: Kind courtesy Shahid Kapoor/Instagram

Gowtam Tinnanuri directed a memorable Jersey in Telugu last year. Now, he has been roped in to remake the film with Shahid Kapoor.

With a lethal combination of cricket and father-son emotions, this one is expected to strike a chord with audiences.

 

Arjun-Rakul Preet Singh
Director: Kaashvi Nair

IMAGE: Rakul Preet and Arjun Kapoor. Inset: Kaashvi Nair. Photograph: Kind courtesy Arjun Kapoor/Instagram

Daughter of film-maker Shashilal Nair (Angaar, One 2 Ka 4) and a long standing associate of Nikkhil Advani, Kaashvi Nair has directed a television series, POW: Bandi Yuddh Ke.

Nikkhil has entrusted her to make a romantic entertainer with Arjun Kapoor and Rakul Preet.

Kaashvi is the only female debutante on the list.

JOGINDER TUTEJA