13 Famous Bollywood Directors Who Played Baddies On-Screen
Posted On: 18 Feb 2022 | Last Updated : 04 Apr 2022 | Views : 1.3k
The definition of a Bollywood villain has always kept changing ever since the 60s and 70s. It all began when actors got branded or typecast as villains and were always called upon to play the same old baddie on-screen film after film. Later a trend came when the lead actors were willing to play the villain who was often termed as the anti-hero to make it sound respectful. Things yet again changed when a trend came when some Bollywood directors decided to step in front of the cameras, not to play a cameo or the protagonist but the role of the main villain. Yes, you read it right, off-late we’ve seen a trend where a good number of Bollywood directors surprised us by playing the quintessential baddie in films. Let’s read on to know more about some of the leading Bollywood directors who played villains in movies. (Note: We have not included on-screen villains who became directors.)
1. Karan Johar (Bombay Velvet)
Rated among Bollywood’s top directors, Karan Johar who has done a few cameos in the past surprised audiences by playing the main villain in Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet in 2015. He was surely one of the few surprise elements in the film playing Kaizad Khambatta that also starred Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma as the main leads. On playing the villain, Karan Johar says, “For me, being an actor was both surreal and exciting. And I had no problem being directed by Anurag. Our cinematic sensibilities are completely contrasting, so opposites are attracted in the best way possible. I feel he has taught me a lot; it was like being in film school. I enjoyed being on the other side of the camera…”.
2. Sudhir Mishra (Traffic Signal)
Director Sudhir Mishra who is known for making films like Main Zinda Hoon, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Chameli, Yeh Saali Zindagi, and Daas Dev had forayed into acting by playing a few cameos but it was Madhur Bhandarkar’s Traffic Signal (2007) where he played Afzal Bhai who called the shots by controlling all the people who lived on the footpath and made a living at the traffic signal. His baddie performance stood out among the likes of Kunal Khemu, Neetu Chandra, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Ranvir Shorey.
3. Nishikant Kamat (Rocky Handsome, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero)
If one talks about Bollywood directors who played baddies on screen then who can forget Nishikant Kamat who despite being a writer-director was also a competent actor. The late director who made films like Mumbai Meri Jaan, Drishyam, Rocky Handsome, and Madaari had played the antagonist as well as the main villain in the John Abraham starrer Rocky Handsome (2016) and Harshavardhan Kapoor’s Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018) directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. His performances as Kevin Ferriera and Rana in respective films received rave reviews and at times looked more powerful than the lead on-screen.
4. Anurag Kashyap (Akira, Shagird, Daas Dev)
Writer-director-producer Anurag Kashyap too joins the elite list of top 10 Bollywood directors who played villains on screen. Anurag Kashyap started his career as a writer and later went on to become director for films like Black Friday, Paanch, No Smoking, Dev.D, Gangs of Wasseypur and Bombay Velvet had dabbled with acting too. He appeared in a few cameos till he played ACP Rane, a corrupt cop in the action-packed Akira (2016) starring Sonakshi Sinha. The other instances where he played the baddie were in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Shagird (2011) and Sudhir Mishra’s Daas Dev (2018).
5. Tigmanshu Dhulia (Gangs of Wasseypur)
Writer-producer-director Tigmanshu Dhulia who started his career by directing star bestsellers series on television made his directorial debut with Haasil in 2003. After directing thrillers like Charas, Shagird, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster series, Bullett Raja, and Paan Singh Tomar he went on to act in a few TV series and films of which his villainy act in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur as Ramadhir Singh stands out in the first part. His performance surprised everyone despite having the presence of Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Jaideep Ahlawat in the film. He also appeared in films like Hero (2015) and Zero (2018).
6. Mahesh Manjrekar (Musafir, Run, Plan, Wanted)
Actor Mahesh Manjrekar also happens to be a part of Bollywood directors who played baddies on screen has been one of Bollywood’s most versatile writers, actors, directors, and producers. Though he started off his Bollywood career as a supporting actor but gradually took up direction and shot to fame with cult gangster flick Vaastav (1999) starring Sanjay Dutt. Besides directing a good number of films in Marathi as well as Hindi his most memorable roles have been that of playing a villain in movies like Musafir, Plan, Run, Slumdog Millionaire, Wanted, Himmatwala, and Mumbai Saga.
7. Prakash Jha (Jai Gangaajal, Saand Ki Aankh)
Director Prakash Jha who is known for making socially relevant films like Hip Hip Hurray, Damul, Mrityudand, Gangaajal, Raajneeti, Aarakshan, and Satyagraha has also played the baddie avatar on a couple of occasions. He debuted as an actor in a cameo in Raajneeti and Chakravyuh but it was his negative character in Priyanka Chopra starrer Jai Gangaajal where he portrayed a corrupt cop and as the cruel sarpanch and family head in Saand Ki Aankh starring Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar. Since then, he has been given up negative roles and concentrates on only cameos and direction.
8. Amole Gupte (Kaminey, Singham Returns, Mumbai Saga)
Writer, actor, producer, and director Amole Gupte who came into the limelight for creating the sensitive Aamir Khan starrer Taare Zameen Par has appeared in some memorable negative roles. Besides giving us some nice films like Stanley Ka Dabba, Hawaa Hawaai, Sniff and Saina his menacing acts as Bhope in Kaminey, Dhananjay Singh in Phas Gaye Re Obama, Babaji in Singham Returns, and Gaitonde in Mumbai Saga are something which gave the protagonist a run for his money. Every negative character he has played on screen has left an interminable impression in the viewer's minds.
9. Arjun Hingorani (Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Kahani Kismat Ki, Kaun Kare Kurbanie)
The man responsible for introducing Dharmendra to Bollywood, producer, actor and director Arjun Hingorani who was known for his ‘triple K’ movie titles also had the dubious distinction of appearing in villain roles. In most of his films like Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Kahani Kismat Ki, Kaun Kare Kurbanie he portrayed the main villain who tries to plot against the protagonist for vested interest. Though many times he went unnoticed for playing a baddie on-screen but die-hard movie buffs did manage to notice him.
10. Rahul Rawail (Jo Bole So Nihaal)
If at all there would be a list of top 10 Bollywood directors who played baddies on screen, Rahul Rawail’s name is sure to figure in it. Though many may try to recall as to which film did the veteran director act in then it was his own film Jo Bole So Nihaal where he played Al Fatah, a terrorist who tries to eliminate Sunny Deol. Rahul Rawail was one of Bollywood’s top-notch directors of the 80s and 90s who gave us films like Love Story, Biwi-O-Biwi, Betaab, Arjun, Dacait, Yodha, Anjaam, and Arjun Pandit. Despite having a long and cherished career Jo Bole So Nihaal remains his only screen appearance to date.
11. Raju Mawani (Satya, Sarkar, Wanted)
Bollywood’s lesser-known actor-director Raju Mavani who directed action thrillers like Surakshaa (1995), Ram Aur Shyam (1996), Iski Topi Uske Sarr (1998), etc., had played some crucial negative roles in big films. In Ram Gopal Varma’s gangster classic Satya, he played the gangster Guru who is out to eliminate Bhiku Mhatre (Manoj Bajpayee). He was also seen as Saleem Hatela in Ghaath, Mangli in D, Vishram Bhagat in Sarkar, and gangster Datta Pawle in Wanted starring Salman Khan.
12. Kirti Kumar (Radha Ka Sangam, Baaz)
Many may not remember but movie buffs who have followed Bollywood films of the 80s and 90s would recollect Govinda’s elder brother Kirti Kumar who starred only in the former’s films. Kirti Kumar who had directed Govinda in movies like Hatya, Radha Ka Sangam, Do Ankhen Barah Hath, Aunty No.1 and Naseeb had actually played the villain in Radha Ka Sangam, and Baaz to name a few. Though he met with moderate success but is always remembered for directing the hit action-thriller Hatya in 1988.
13. Tinnu Anand (Chamatkar, Aaj Ka Goondaraaj, Ghatak, Lajja)
Actor, writer, producer and director Tinnu Anand who started his Bollywood journey by appearing in a few uncredited cameos in the 70s marked his directorial debut in 1979 with the Shashi Kapoor-Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh starrer Duniya Meri Jeb Mein. It was the success of Amitabh Bachchan starrer Kaalia (1981) that brought him into the limelight and after which he directed movies like Shahehshah (1988), Main Azaad Hoon (1989), and Major Saab (1998). Come the 90s he started to focus more on his acting assignments by majorly playing the antagonist or the supporting villain in films like Chamatkar, Aaj Ka Goondaraaj, Damini, Ghatak, and Lajja, etc.
