Aanand L. Rai(born 1970/1971[1]) is an Indian film director and producer known for directing the romantic comedy-dramasTanu Weds Manu(2011) and its sequelTanu Weds Manu Returns(2015), and the romantic dramaRaanjhanaa(2013), with the latter two earning him nominations for theFilmfare Award for Best Director.
Aanand L. Rai | |
|---|---|
 Rai at a screening forTumbbadin 2018 | |
| Born | 1970/1971 (age 53–54) Delhi, India |
| Occupation(s) | Film director,film producer |
| Years active | 2007–present |
He then directed the big-budget romantic dramaZero(2018), the romantic fantasy comedy-dramaAtrangi Re(2021) and the family comedy-dramaRaksha Bandhan(2022).
Early life and background
Rai was born and brought up in Delhi. After his schooling in Delhi, he did his computer engineering fromAurangabad,Maharashtra.[1]
His family's original surname was Raisinghani, and had shifted toDehradunfromSindh,afterpartition of Indiain 1947.[1]
Career
Pre-film career
Rai started his career as an engineer, but soon left it and moved to Mumbai where he started assisting his elder brother television director Ravi Rai in various television series. After gaining substantial experience, he moved on to directing his own shows.[1][2]
Early work (2007-2008)
He made his directorial debut with the psychological thrillerStrangers(2007) starringJimmy Shergill,Kay Kay Menon,Nandana Sen,Sonali Kulkarni.The film was based onAlfred Hitchcock'sStrangers on a Train(1951). The film received negative reviews from critics, and emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office.[3]Similar was the fate of his next film,Thodi Life Thoda Magic(2008) starringJackie ShroffandParmeet Sethi.[4]
Breakthrough and success (2011-2015)
In 2011, he started his production house,Colour Yellow Productions,which helmed all his future production ventures.[5]
The same year, he achieved his breakthrough with the romantic comedy-dramaTanu Weds Manu(2011) starringR. MadhavanandKangana Ranautin lead roles. The film emerged as his first commercial success, grossing ₹56 crore worldwide.[6][7]It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics upon release, with particular praise for its novel concept and screenplay. The film was the first instalment of theTanu Weds Manufranchise.
In 2013, he directed the romantic dramaRaanjhanaa,starringDhanushin his Bollywood debut alongsideSonam Kapoor,Abhay DeolandSwara Bhaskerin lead roles.[8]The film emerged as his second consecutive commercial success at the box-office, grossing ₹94 crore worldwide, ranking as thetenth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[9]It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics upon release, with particular praise for its writing and direction.Raanjhanaaearned Rai his first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Director.
In 2015, Rai directed the romantic comedy-dramaTanu Weds Manu Returns,the sequel toTanu Weds Manu,with all the cast members reprising their roles from the first instalment. The film opened to widespread critical acclaim upon release, and emerged as his third consecutive commercial success. It grossed ₹243.6 crore worldwide and emerged as a blockbuster at the box-office,[10]ranking as thefifth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year,and was the highest-grossing female-lead film in India at the time of its release.[11]Tanu Weds Manu Returnsearned Rai his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.
Career decline (2018-present)
His next directorial was the big-budget romantic dramaZero(2018) starringShah Rukh Khan,Anushka SharmaandKatrina Kaifin lead roles. The film tells the story of a love triangle between a dwarf man, a scientist withcerebral palsy,and an alcoholic actress. Despite high hype prior to release due to itsA-liststar-cast and Rai's previous successful ventures, the film emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office, and received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics.[12]
In 2021, he directed the romantic fantasy comedy-dramaAtrangi Restarring Dhanush,Sara Ali KhanandAkshay Kumarin lead roles. Delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Indiaand rescheduled multiple times due to thenationwide lockdown due to the pandemic,the film was released onDisney+ Hotstar,bypassing theatrical release. It opened to mixed reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its unconventional plot, but criticism for its incoherent screenplay and execution of overall storyline.
In 2022, he directed Kumar again alongsideBhumi Pednekarin the family comedy-dramaRaksha Bandhan.The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, and emerged as a commercial disaster at the box-office.[13]
Rai is next set to direct the standalone sequel toRaanjhanaa,titledTere Ishk Mein,which is set to release in 2025.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Strangers | Yes | ||
| 2008 | Thodi Life Thoda Magic | Yes | ||
| 2011 | Tanu Weds Manu | Yes | ||
| 2013 | Raanjhanaa | Yes | ||
| 2015 | Tanu Weds Manu: Returns | Yes | ||
| 2016 | Nil Battey Sannata | Yes | ||
| 2016 | Happy Bhag Jayegi | Yes | ||
| 2017 | Shubh Mangal Saavdhan | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Mukkabaaz | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Meri Nimmo | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Manmarziyaan | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Tumbbad | Yes | ||
| 2018 | Zero | Yes | Yes | |
| 2019 | Laal Kaptaan | Yes | ||
| 2020 | Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan | Yes | ||
| 2021 | Haseen Dillruba | Yes | ||
| 2021 | Atrangi Re | Yes | Yes | |
| 2022 | Good Luck Jerry | Yes | ||
| 2022 | Raksha Bandhan | Yes | Yes | |
| 2023 | Jhimma 2 | Yes | Marathi film | |
| 2025 | Tere Ishq Mein† | Yes | Yes |
References
- ^abcdRai, Aanand L (24 June 2013)."I can exploit people emotionally: Aanand L Rai".The Times of India(Interview). Interviewed by Priya Gupta. Archived fromthe originalon 27 June 2013.TNN
- ^"Wanted to celebrate pain and love with Raanjhanaa: Anand L Rai".Hindustan Times.11 June 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2013.Retrieved24 June2013.
- ^"Strangers - Movie - Box Office India".boxofficeindia.Retrieved14 November2023.
- ^"Thodi Life Thoda Magic - Movie - Box Office India".boxofficeindia.Retrieved14 November2023.
- ^"Akshay Kumar announces new film Raksha Bandhan, dedicates it to sister Alka: 'Quickest I've signed a film in my career'".Hindustan Times.3 August 2020.Retrieved3 August2020.
- ^"Tanu Weds Manu - Movie - Box Office India".boxofficeindia.Retrieved14 November2023.
- ^Komal Nahta (24 February 2011)."Tanu Weds Manu: Profit All The Way".koimoi.Retrieved24 June2013.
- ^"Dhanush signs first Hindi film".The Times of India.24 January 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 24 June 2013.Retrieved24 June2013.
- ^"Raanjhanaa - Movie - Box Office India".boxofficeindia.Retrieved14 November2023.
- ^"Tanu Weds Manu Returns - Movie - Box Office India".boxofficeindia.Retrieved15 November2023.
- ^Hungama, Bollywood."Female Centric Movies - Bollywood Hungama".Bollywood Hungama.Retrieved14 November2023.
- ^"Zero - Movie - Box Office India".boxofficeindia.Retrieved15 November2023.
- ^"Raksha Bandhan - Movie - Box Office India".boxofficeindia.Retrieved15 November2023.