Top 8 Bollywood directorial debuts on OTT platforms: From Salman Khan’s ‘Khamoshi’ to Sridevi’s ‘English Vinglish’

Film is a director’s medium and the story is told through the actors. A director’s first film always remains special. So, here is a carefully selected list of the top 8 debut films of Bollywood directors. The list includes Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Salman Khan starrer ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’ and Gauri Shinde’s 2012 film ‘English Vinglish’.

Best directorial debut in Bollywood

1. English Vinglish (2012)

• IMDb rating: 7.8/10
• Performer: Sridevi, Adil Hussain
• director: Gauri Shinde
• Writer: Gauri Shinde
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: Eros Now, JioCinema

Gauri Shinde made her directorial debut with the 2012 drama film English Vinglish. It also marked Sridevi’s return to the big screen after a long time. The film is about a housewife who attends English classes after being teased by her family for not being fluent in the language. This movie is a fun watch embellished with a good message.

2. Munna Bai MBBS (2003)

• IMDb rating: 8.1/10
• Performer: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani
• director: Rajkumar Hirani
• Writer: Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: Amazon Prime Video

Rajkumar Hirani is one of the greatest directors in Bollywood. He made his feature debut with his 2003 comedy film Munnabhai His MBBS. This comedy starring Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi’s style later became Hirani’s signature. Following its success, a sequel titled Lage Raho Munna Bhai was produced which went on to be an even bigger success.

3. Wake Up Sid (2009)

• IMDb rating: 7.6/10
• Performer: Ranbir Kapoor, Konkana Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher
• director: Ayan Mukerji
• Writer: Ayan Mukerji, Niranjan Iyengar
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: Netflix

Ayan Mukerji’s directorial debut Wake Up Sid is a coming-of-age film about a lazy Mumbai college student, played by Ranbir Kapoor, who finds his calling. The movie is packed with sweet moments along with some slice-of-life scenarios with lessons. After the success of this film, Mukerji went on to make big budget films like ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani’ and ‘Brahmastra’.

4. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

• IMDb rating: 7.5/10
• Performer: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Kajol
• director: karan johar
• Writer: karan johar
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: Netflix

After cutting his teeth with ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayange’, Karan Johar forayed into the world of film directing starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji. The result was his one of the most iconic and successful films in Bollywood. The influence of this film remains part of our popular culture and is felt to this day.

5. Luck by Chance (2009)

• IMDb rating: 7.1/10
• Performer: Farhan Akhtar.Konkana Sen Sharma
• director: Zoya Akhtar
• Writer: Zoya Akhtar, Javed Akhtar
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: Netflix

Zoya Akhtar made her first film in 2009 after working in advertising for years. Although it did not do well commercially, the film received positive reviews. It also features cameo appearances by many big stars. Unlike most movies in the industry, this movie is a true depiction of how Bollywood works. A must-see movie for all movie fans.

6. Kamushi: The Musical (1996)

• IMDb rating: 7.5/10
• Performer: Salman Khan, Manisha Koirala, Nana Patekar
• director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
• Writer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Sutapa Sikdar
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: disney + hotstar

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for the opulence and grandeur of his films. But like many people, he started with intimate stories. Starring Salman Khan, Manisha Koirala, Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas, the film tells the story of a daughter whose parents are deaf and mute. Please watch it if you haven’t seen it yet.

7. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

• IMDb rating: 8.0/10
• Performer: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol
• director: Aditya Chopra
• Writer: Aditya Chopra
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: Amazon Prime Video

Yash Chopra’s son Aditya Chopra took everyone by surprise with his first film. After its release, DDLJ achieved massive critical and commercial success. Over the years, it has become not only a cultural phenomenon, but also a part of pop culture. The film’s dialogue and train sequences have been immortalized and are often illustrated through memes and more.

8. Ek Main Aur Ek Tu (2012)

• IMDb rating: 5.8/10
• Performer: Kareena Kapoor, Imran Khan
• director: Shakun Batra
• Writer: Shakun Batra, Asha Devitre
• Where to watch/OTT platforms: Netflix

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu is Shakun Batra’s directorial debut. Produced by Karan Johar, the film stars Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan in lead roles. It depicts a man who accidentally marries a girl and what happens afterward. Upon release, the film was a critical and commercial success and skyrocketed Batra’s career.