Do Actors Make Successful Directors?

When
the
Hindi
film
industry
was
in
its
infancy,
there
was
a
sizeable
overlap
between
actors
and
directors,
as
quite
a
few
artistes
played
both
roles.

The
trend
continued
in
the
1950s,
1960s
and
1970s,
with
legends
like
Guru
Dutt,
Raj
Kapoor
and
Dev
Anand
donning
both
hats.

Hrithik
Roshan
surprised
many
by


announcing
his
decision
to
turn
director
with
the
latest

Krrish
film,
and
one
looks
forward
to
a
different
grammar
coming
into
action.

His
father
Rakesh
Roshan
is
one
of
the
most
successful
actors-turned-directors
in
recent
times.

While
we
wait
for

Krrish
4,

Joginder
Tuteja
looks
at
the
success
rates
of
actors-turned
directors.

Aamir
Khan

Taare
Zameen
Par
Box
office
collection:
Rs
62
crore/Rs
620
million

Aamir
Khan
stumbled
into
direction
with

Taare
Zameen
Par
when
creative
differences
cropped
up
between
him
and
the
original
director,
Amole
Gupta.

The
film
emerged
a
blockbuster
and
a
cult
classic.

Farhan
Akhtar


Dil
Chahta
Hai
Box
office
collection:
Rs
20
crore/Rs
200
million

Lakshya
Box
office
collection:
Rs
24
crore/Rs
240
million

Don
Box
office
collection:
Rs
50
crore/Rs
500
million

Don
2
Box
office
collection:
Rs
107
crore/Rs
1.07
billion

A
multi-talented
personality,
Farhan
is
a
writer,
director,
actor,
singer
and
performer.

He
started
his
career
as
a
director
first,
with

Dil
Chahta
Hai,
then
ventured
into
acting.

He
has
made
four
films
so
far
and
each
of
them
are
commercial
successes.

One
looks
forward
to

Don
3.

Ajay
Devgn

U
Me
Aur
Hum
Box
office
collection:
Rs
21
crore/Rs
210
million

Shivaay
Box
office
collection:
Rs
100.33
crore/Rs
1
billion

RunwayBox
office
collection:
Rs
34
crore/Rs
340
million

Bholaa

Box
office
collection:
Rs
82
crore/Rs
820
million

In
a
career
spanning
almost
three-and-a-half
decades,
Ajay
has
been
creatively
involved
in
the
making
of
many
of
his
films.

But
it’s
ironic
that
whenever
he
has
directed
a
film,
it
hasn’t
done
well
at
the
box
office.

Randeep
Hooda

Swatantrya
Veer
Savarkar
Box
office
collection:
Rs
25
crore/Rs
250
million

Swatantrya
Veer
Savarkar
was
originally
supposed
to
be
directed
by
Mahesh
Manjrekar.
Creative
differences
with
lead
actor
Randeep
Hooda
led
to
a
parting
of
ways.

Later,
Randeep
helmed
the
film
himself.

Kangana
Ranaut

Manikarnika:
The
Queen
Of
Jhansi
Box
office
collection:
Rs
92
crore/Rs
920
million

Emergency
Box
office
collection:
Rs
16.52
crore/Rs
165.2
million

A
difference
of
opinion
led
to
Director
Krish
parting
ways
and
lead
actor
Kangana
Ranaut
taking
up
charge
of

Manikarnika:
The
Queen
of
Jhansi.

The
film
was
a
success,
and
Kangana
went
on
to
direct
another
period
film,

Emergency.

Sonu
Sood

Fateh
Box
office
collection:
Rs
12.85
crore/Rs
128.5
million

Kangana
and
Sonu
Sood
had
issues
during
the
making
of

Manikarnika,
which
led
him
to
quit
the
film.
As
luck
would
have
it,
Sonu’s
debut
directorial

Fateh
released
quite
close
to

Emergency.

The
actor
made
a
stylish
action
film,
unfortunately,

Fateh
could
not
cover
much
distance.

Divya
Khosla
Kumar

Yaariyan
Box
office
collection:
Rs
40
crore/Rs
400
million

Sanam
Re
Box
office
collection:
Rs
28
crore/Rs
280
million

Divya
Khosla
made
her
acting
debut
in
2004’s

Ab
Tumhare
Hawaale
Watan
Saathiyo.
Ten
years
later,
she
directed
her
first
film,

Yaariyan.

Laced
with
some
memorable
songs,
the
film
marked
Rakul
Singh’s
debut.

A
good
box
office
success,
it
saw

Sanam
Re
as
a
follow-up.
The
songs
were
good
once
again
but
the
box
office
results
were
not.

Arbaaz
Khan

Dabangg
2
Box
office
collection:
Rs
155
crore/Rs
1.55
billion

Arbaaz
has
directed
only
one
film
and
that’s
the
most
entertaining
one
of
the

Dabangg
franchise.

After
Abhinav
Kashyap
set
the
tone
for

Dabangg,
Arbaaz
decided
to
make

Dabangg
2
and
delivered
a
superhit.

He
hasn’t
made
a
film
again
and
gave
Prabhu
Deva
the
responsibility
to
make

Dabangg
3,
the
weakest
of
the
franchise.

Sohail
Khan

Auzaar
Box
office
collection:
Rs
6
crore/Rs
60
million

Pyaar
Kiya
To
Darna
Kya
Box
office
collection:
Rs
18
crore/Rs
180
million

Hello
Brother
Box
office
collection:
Rs
11
crore/Rs
110
million

Maine
Dil
Tujhko
Diya
Box
office
collection:
Rs
6
crore/Rs
60
million

Jai
Ho
Box
office
collection:
Rs
116
crore/Rs
1.16
billion

Sohail
Khan
has
directed
many
films,
all
with
limited
success.

Jai
Ho
was
a
fair
success,
but
he
hasn’t
directed
another
film
since.