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.

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

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

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).

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.

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. 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. 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:

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]

As assistant director