Anees Bazmee
| Anees Bazmee | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 1 November 1962 Modasa, Gujarat, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Director, screenwriter, producer, actor |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Education | Secondary school (10th standard) |
| Spouse | Fatima Bazmee |
| Children | Sana Bazmee, Sarah Bazmee, Saba Shaikh, Faizan Bazmee |
| Known for | No Entry, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 |
| Religion | Islam |
Anees Bazmee (born 1 November 1962) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor who primarily works in Hindi cinema. He is widely regarded as one of Bollywood’s most successful commercial directors, especially known for large-scale comedy entertainers and family-friendly blockbusters. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Bazmee has contributed to Indian cinema as a child actor, assistant director, prolific screenwriter and leading director.
Early Life and Background
Anees Bazmee was born on 1 November 1962 in Modasa, Gujarat, India, into a Gujarati Muslim family. His father, Abdul Hameed ‘Nerang’ Bazmee, was a respected Urdu poet, while his mother, Khatoon Begum, was a homemaker. Creativity and literary expression played an important role in his upbringing, heavily influenced by his father’s poetic background.[1]
Bazmee realized his interest in cinema at an early age and began working as a child artist. He appeared in films such as Kitaab (1977), Bhayanak, and Naseeb (1981), where he portrayed the younger version of actor Shatrughan Sinha. At the age of 13, he moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in filmmaking and gained hands-on experience by working in departments such as sound, editing and art direction.[2]
Career
Assistant Direction and Screenwriting
In 1982, Anees Bazmee began his professional filmmaking journey as an assistant director under the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor on the film Prem Rog. This opportunity proved pivotal in shaping his understanding of cinema. He later worked as an assistant writer with Ravinder Pippat and Jainendra Jain, and ghost-wrote several scripts during his formative years.[3]
Bazmee made his official debut as a screenwriter with Swarg (1990), starring Rajesh Khanna and Govinda. The film was both a commercial and critical success, leading to a surge in writing opportunities. Throughout the 1990s, he emerged as one of Bollywood’s most prolific writers, penning more than 60 films across Hindi, Tamil and Marathi cinema. Notable writing credits from this phase include Bol Radha Bol, Aankhen, Raja Babu, Deewana Mastana, Laadla, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge and Shola Aur Shabnam.[4]
Directorial Breakthrough
Anees Bazmee made his directorial debut with Hulchul (1995), starring Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Vinod Khanna. His major breakthrough came with Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), which ranked among the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year and firmly established him as a successful director.
He went on to direct a series of blockbuster films, particularly in the comedy genre. No Entry (2005) became a cult hit, followed by Welcome (2007), Singh Is Kinng (2008), Ready (2011), Welcome Back (2015) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022). He also received critical appreciation for the romantic thriller Deewangee (2002).
Bazmee has collaborated with many of India’s biggest stars, including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar and Irrfan Khan. His long-standing associations with production houses such as Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, UTV Motion Pictures, Studio 18 and Boney Kapoor Productions have further strengthened his position in the industry.
Personal Life
Anees Bazmee is married to Fatima Bazmee. The couple has four children: Sana Bazmee, Sarah Bazmee, Saba Shaikh and Faizan Bazmee. Despite his high-profile career, Bazmee maintains a relatively private personal life.
Physical Appearance
- Height: Approx. 172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
- Weight: Approx. 74 kg
- Eye colour: Black
- Hair colour: Black
Awards and Recognition
- Star Gold Comedy Honors Award – Director with Comic Excellence (2008)
- Film Foundation Award – Most Successful Director (2017)
- Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Award – Best Film Director (2021)
- Society Achievers Award – Best Director for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022)
Filmography
As Director
- Hulchul (1995)
- Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998)
- Deewangee (2002)
- No Entry (2005)
- Welcome (2007)
- Singh Is Kinng (2008)
- Ready (2011)
- Welcome Back (2015)
- Pagalpanti (2019)
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022)
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024)
As Screenwriter
- Swarg (1990)
- Aankhen (1993)
- Raja Babu (1994)
- Deewana Mastana (1997)
- Mujhse Shaadi Karoge (2004)