13 Bollywood Choreographers Who Tried Their Luck In Direction
Posted On: 19 Sep 2022 | Last Updated : 19 Oct 2022 | Views : 1.2k
India’s biggest entertainment world Bollywood demands all its members to be all-rounders. One must be proficient in acting, dancing, singing and everything to entertain the audience to ensure to sustain and make it big in the Bollywood industry. Following this demanding trend in the Indian entertainment industry, most Bollywood celebrities are seen trying their hands at different career options. Actors become producers, directors become actors, singers become music directors, and finally, choreographers become directors. Known for offering wholesome movies with action, drama, dance, and music, Bollywood demands mastery in every aspect, which necessitates filmmakers to unify the best people in every department to make the movie a blockbuster. While dance and music remain the most important part of Bollywood, as Bollywood lovers would die for Bollywood music. Which makes dance a prominent part of the Bollywood industry, which not only makes the Bollywood stars dance perfectly to the beats but also retells the story with the dance numbers. Directing these dance numbers gives them enough experience to direct the movie, however, some make it big as a filmmaker, while others flunk. So today, we are going to talk about the famous Bollywood choreographers who turned directors. Stay tuned to check out more such Bollywood updates, articles, topics, and trivia related to movies and celebrities.
1. Uday Shankar (Kalpana - 1948)
Born in British India, Uday Shankar was one of the first Bollywood choreographers, who was known for adapting the European theatre techniques to Indian classical dance, and popularize Indian folk and tribal dance forms globally. In 1938, he established his dance center, and went on to work with big Bollywood celebrities, like Guru Dutt, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Zohra Sehgal, Lakshmi Shankar and many more. However, due to financial losses, Uday Shankar had to close down his dance center in 1942. In 1948, he directed his first and only film Kalpana, which follows the dancer’s dream of setting up his own dance academy. Uday Shankar performed classical dance in the movie, along with his with Amala Shankar.
2. Kamal Master (Chahoonga Main Tujhe - 1993)
Veteran Bollywood dance director Kamal Master who started as an assistant choreographer in 1963 with the film Ghar Basake Dekho went on to choreograph for many films like Roti, Dharam Karam, Nagin Amar Akbar Anthony, Mr. Natwarlal, Disco Dancer, Agneepath and many more. He turned director in 1993 with the romantic musical drama Chahoonga Main Tujhe which launched his son Irfan Kamal’s acting career. Though the film didn’t get the cash registers ringing but is remembered for its beautiful music and dance numbers. The film remains Kamal Master’s solo directorial release to date.
3. Chinni Prakash (Ghoonghat - 1997)
The Indian actor, dance choreographer, script-writer and director, Chinni Prakash always wanted to be a part of the Indian film industry. After completing his education, Chinni Prakash became a dancer, and got his first break as a dance choreographer for the 1965 film Khandan, directed by A. Bhimsen. Later, he choreographed songs for many blockbuster movies like Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Sabse Bada Rupaiya (1976), Hero Hiralal (1988), Saajan (1971), Hum (1991), Gumrah (1993), Mohra (1994), Karan Arjun (1995), etc. He is a recipient of the National Film Award and Filmfare Award for best choreographer. He made his directorial debut with the 1997 film Ghoonghat, however, it was his only film as director.
4. B. H. Tharun Kumar (Nayee Padosan - 2003)
If there would be a mention of the top 10 Bollywood choreographers who turned into directors, then B. H. Tharun Kumar would easily make it to the list. B. H. Tharun Kumar started as a background dancer before going independent with films like Saugandh (1991), Afsana Pyar Ka (1991), Bol Radha Bol (1992), Darr (1993), Raja Babu (1994) and Coolie No.1 (1995), etc. His association with Govinda and director David Dhawan helped him gain fame. In 2003 he made his directorial debut with the romantic-comedy Nayee Padosan after which he also directed Love Ke Chakkar Mein (2006), Rafoo Chakkar: Fun on the Run (2008), and Kaash Mere Hote (2009).
5. Ahmed Khan (Lakeer: Forbidden Lines - 2004)
Another famous choreographer who turned director in Bollywood is Ahmed Khan. He started his career as a child actor with the 1987 sci-fi fantasy movie Mr. India, starring Anil Kapoor and Sri Devi. As an adult, Ahmed Khan started his career as a choreographer with the Tamil film Mudhalvan (1999). Later, he made his debut in Bollywood as a dance choreographer with the 2001 Anil Kapoor starrer movie, Nayak: The Real Hero. He has also choreographed dance numbers in other movies like Lakeer (2004), Fool & Final (2007), Ek Paheli Leela (2015), Baaghi 2 (2018) and many more. The choreographer made his directorial debut with the 2004 film Lakeer, and went on to direct movies like Baaghi 2 (2018), Baaghi 3 (2020), Heropanti 2 (2022), etc.
6. Farah Khan (Main Hoon Na - 2004)
The multi-talented Indian filmmaker and choreographer, Farah Khan is often referred as one of the top Indian choreographers who turned into a director. Recipient of several accolades, including National Film Award for Best Choreographer, Farah Khan has choreographed over 100 songs in around 80 films. She started her career as a dancer and went on to form her own dance group and participated in international dance championships. In Bollywood, she made her debut as a dance choreographer with the 1992 coming-of-age film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, starring Aamir Khan and Ayesha Jhulka. She also choreographed dance songs in movies like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kaho Naa..Pyaar Hai (2000), Monsoon Wedding (2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Bombay Dreams (2002), Koi… Mil Gaya (2003), etc. Soon after, she started her career as a film director with the 2004 film Main Hoon Na, starring Shah Rukh Khan. Later, she directed movies like - Om Shanti Om (2007), Tees Maar Khan (2010) and Happy New Year (2014).
7. Ganesh Acharya (Swami - 2007)
One of the top 10 Indian choreographers who turned directors, Ganesh Acharya is the recipient of several accolades, including National Film Award. He made his debut in Bollywood as a dance choreographer with the 1992 film Anaam. He went on to direct a series of Bollywood films, including Judwaa (1997), Soldier (1998), Baadshah (1999), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), Lajja (2001), The Hero (2003), Mujhse Shaadi Karoge (2004) and many more. He has also acted in a number of films like Ghatak (1996), Money Hai Toh Honey Hai (2008) and ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013). Later, he started his career as a film director with the 2007 film Swami, and also directed movies like Money Hai Toh Honey Hai (2008), Angel (2011), and Bhikari (2017).
8. Prabhu Deva (Wanted - 2009)
Regarded as one of the best dancers of the Indian film industry, Prabhu Deva has performed and designed various dance styles in his career that spanned over 32 years. Prabhu Deva started his career as an actor and acted in various commercially successful South Indian movies like Kandhalan (1994), VIP (1997), Engal Anna (2004), etc. Later, he started his career as a dance choreographer, and won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for Hrithik Roshan starrer Lakshya (2004). He then tried his hand in film direction, and directed movies like Wanted (2009), Rowdy Rathore (2012), R… Rajkumar (2013), Dabangg 3 (2019), Radhe (2021) and many more.
9. Remo D’Souza (F.A.L.T.U - 2011)
Remo D’Souza is often regarded as one of the top Bollywood choreographers who turned directors. Remo started his career as a dancer and appeared in several music videos and film songs as a back dancer. He has choreographed a number of Bollywood movies, like Tehzeeb (2004), Student of the Year (2013), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2014), Bajirao Mastani (2016), etc. However, he gained recognition with his debut on television, as a judge on a dance show ‘Dance India Dance’, along with Geeta Kapoor and Terence Lewis. Later on, he made his directorial debut, with the 2011 comedy film F.A.L.T.U., which was well received by critics and audience. He has also directed other movies like ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013), A Flying Jatt (2016), Race 3 (2018) and many more.
10. Raghava Lawrence (Laxmii - 2020)
Another top Indian choreographer who tried his luck in film direction, Raghava Lawrence is an Indian dance choreographer, director, dancer, playback singer and actor. Raghava was merely a car cleaner, when his dance was noticed by superstar Rajinikanth, who helped him to get his first break in a Tamil film, Samsara Sangeetham in 1989. He has performed in the dance numbers in a number of South Indian movies, and also choreographed dance for the 1997 Telugu film Master. Later, he established his career as a director in the South Indian film industry, and finally made his directorial debut in Bollywood with the 2020 horror-comedy drama Laxmii, starring Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani.
11. Raka (Happy Hardy and Heer - 2020)
Raka is an Indian director and dance choreographer, who has predominantly worked in Bollywood film industry. He started his career as a dancer and later worked as an assistant dance choreographer under top choreographers like Ahmed Khan and Bosco Martis. Later, he started working as an independent choreographer, and choreographed songs in movies, like Hisss (2010), Thank You (2011), Nil Battey Sannata (2015), Laila Majnu (2018), and many more. He finally made his directorial debut with the 2020 musical romantic drama Happy Hardy and Heer, starring Himesh Reshammiya and Sonia Mann.
12. Bosco Martis (Rocket Gang - 2022)
One of the top Indian directors who turned directors, Bosco Martis is a part of the famous Indian dance choreographer duo - Bosco-Caesar. The duo has choreographed songs for various Bollywood films, like Mission Kashmir (2000), Kuch Naa Kaho (2003), Jab We Met (2007), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Student of the Year (2012), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), War (2019) and many more. Finally, in 2019 Bosco Martis confirmed that he is going to make his directorial debut with the 2022 children’s dance movie Rocket Gang.
13. Jayesh Pradhan (Nawabzaade - 2018)
Jayesh Pradhan started his Bollywood career by becoming an assistant choreographer in the 2002 Amitabh Bachchan starrer Aankhen. He thereafter went on to assist some of the leading choreographers in films like Kaante, Qayamat: City Under Threat, Chameli, Dhoom, Shabd, Bas Ek Pal, and Cash before turning independent choreographer with Dil Dosti Etc. (2007). He also choreographed songs in movies like Kai Po Che, ABCD, Hate Story, and Article 15 before wielding the megaphone for Nawabzaade in 2018. Nawabzaade was a romantic comedy-drama starring Dharmesh Yelande, Punit Pathak, Raghav Juyal, and Isha Rikhi.
