8 Bollywood Actors Who Ambitiously Turned Directors

The ratio of filmmakers turning actors would always be higher than actors turning filmmakers and the reason is obvious! Filmmaking is a more testing job than any other on a film’s set. While we’ve seen a lot of popular directors like Farhan Akhtar, Prakash Jha, Nishikant Kamath turning actors in the recent past, Bollywood has also seen a lot of big stars donning the director’s hat with ambition.

While all men of the Kapoor family virtually turned filmmakers even if it was for one or two experiments, there have been the likes of Abhishek Kapoor who despite having started as an actor became a cult director.

Also Read: 14 Bollywood Directors Who Faced The Camera As Actors!

As we take a closer look at the Bollywood history, we bring you 8 popular Bollywood actors (some of them stars) who turned directors:

Ajay Devgn

Films Directed (2): U Me Aur Hum, Shivaay

Ajay Devgn is all over the internet these days for his second directorial Shivaay catching a lot of attention and deservingly so. The actor however turned filmmaker in 2008 with is romantic emotional drama U Me Aur Hum and made quite a fair impact.

Naseeruddin Shah

Film Directed (1): Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota

While his acting accolades speak of the skills he’s made of, even the veteran didn’t hesitate to take up direction. The actor in 2006 decided to take the top job for a story he wanted to convey. His first and sadly only film as a director is Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota in 2006.

Aamir Khan

Film Directed (1): Taare Zameen Par

After he had some creative difference with writer and (initial director) of Taare Zameen Par Amole Gupte, Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan chose to take matters in his own hands. The actor made his debut as a director with the mesmerizing Taare Zameen Par and also won the Filmfare Best Director for his work.

Sunny Deol

Films Directed (2): Dillagi, Ghayal Once Again

Arguably the biggest action hero India has produced, Sunny surprisingly made his directorial debut with a romantic love triangle. With Dillagi that also starred Urmila Matondkar and his brother Bobby Deol, Sunny Deol proved that he had directorial abilities. He then returned to the same job with this year’s action film Ghayal Once Again.

Anupam Kher

Film Directed (1): Om Jai Jagdish

The senior actor who had already established himself as a legend in pulling off characters on screen, turned filmmaker with a quintessential Bollywood family drama in 2002. Starring Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles, Mr. Kher helmed the film Om Jai Jagdish that turned out to be a flop.

Arbaaz Khan

Film Directed (1): Dabangg 2

While he turned producer for the first time with Salman Khan starrer Dabangg, the sequel of the film made him sit on the director’s chair. He will next be seen helming the third part of the series as well.

Nana Patekar

Film Directed (1): Prahaar

The only film this three time national award winner actor directed was way back in 1991 in the looks of Prahaar. The film that is considered to have depicted the absolutely real picture of an Army setting was critically acclaimed but Nana is yet to return to behind the camera.

Rakesh Roshan

Films Directed (13): Krrish Trilogy, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Karan Arjun & More

This is one man who’s perhaps a director first and an actor second. However, he only chose to turn a filmmaker after spending almost two decades in the industry as an actor. Debuting in 1987 with Khudgarz, Rakesh Roshan is credited to have given India some of its most accomplished films.

Filmmaking is indeed to demanding a job to handle and these actors have been through the agony. While we’d agree it’s a healthy trend but may be the industry knows it too – the game behind the camera is different from the one in front of it!