Top Bollywood Villains Who Gave A Shot At Direction
Posted On: 22 May 2023 | Last Updated : 22 May 2023 | Views : 1.1k
They say nothing succeeds like success and Bollywood is no different where one is considered as good as his or her last film. There are many celebrities in Bollywood who got a break because they possessed a certain skill and used it to the best of their ability to succeed. As time passed, many felt it was time to explore other facets of filmmaking and forayed into various departments with much or less success. We have seen actors turning directors, producers turning directors, actresses turning directors and so and so forth. One thing that surprised many of us was when noted Bollywood villains went on to wield the megaphone. The notion that many of us go by is that on-screen baddies are no good in real life too but it’s a myth that has been put to rest by a few top Bollywood villains who went on to become directors. Let’s take a glimpse at some of the top Bollywood villains who turned directors at some point of time in their careers:
1. Premnath – Prisoner of Golconda (1954), Samunder (1957)
Premnath was one of Bollywood’s most dashing heroes to have graced the silver screen. The actor who started his career by playing male leads gave many hits in the form of Barsaat, Buzdil, Badal, Aurat, Changez Khan before turning to play baddies in movies like Johny Mera Naam, Raja Jani, Loafer, Amir Garib, Nehle Pe Dehlaa, Vishwanath and Karz. He probably was one of the first Bollywood villains who became a director by directing two films Prisoner of Golconda (1954), and Samunder (1957) both featuring himself and his real-life wife Bina Rai in the lead.
2. Danny Denzongpa – Phir Wahi Raat (1980)
Danny Denzongpa was regarded as one of the most dreaded villains ever to grace the silver screen. An alumnus of FTII, Danny started his acting career by playing supporting roles before Dhund and Dharmatma happened. He went on to play the main villain in many hit films including Kali Ghata, Chunaoti, The Burning Train, Abdullah, Andar Baahar, Aandhi-Toofan, Agneepath, Hum, and Ghatak. He turned director with the horror crime thriller Phir Wahi Raat (1980) starring Rajesh Khanna, Kim, and himself. The film happens to be his only directorial so far.
3. Ranjeet – Kaarnaama (1990), Gajab Tamaasa (1992)
Another name among Bollywood villains who turned directors is Ranjeet. Ranjeet has been one of Hindi cinema’s iconic villains who has featured in more than 350 films and continues to play spoilsport to heroes on screen. His notable performances have been in hits such as Sharmeelee, Amir Garib, Dharmatma, Uljhan, Amar Akbar Anthony, Dharam Veer, Aapke Deewane, Laawaris, and Namak Halaal, etc. He turned director with the Vinod Khanna – Farha Naaz – Kimi Katkar starrer Kaarnaama and followed it up with the Rahul Roy – Anu Agarwal starrer Gajab Tamaasa. Both films didn’t do well at the box office.
4. Imtiaz Khan – Pyara Dost (1982)
Known for playing the baddie in films such as Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Dharmatma, Ganga Aur Suraj, and Dayavan, Imtiaz Khan too gave a shot at direction by directing Pyara Dost starring Naseeruddin Shah, Amjad Khan, and Ranjeeta Kaur. Despite being one of the most talented actor villains in Bollywood Imtiaz couldn’t match the fame his brother Amjad Khan garnered in the 70s and 80s.
5. Amjad Khan – Adhura Aadmi (1982), Chor Police (1983), Ameer Aadmi Ghareeb Aadmi (1985)
Actor, director, and producer Amjad Khan needs no introduction to fans born before the 90s. The actor announced his arrival on the silver screen by playing one of Hindi cinema’s most hated baddies that were Gabbar Singh from Sholay. The success of Sholay made him play unforgettable villainous characters in popular films like Charas, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Parvarish, Inkaar, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Ram Balram, Naseeb and Kaalia. He too joins the list of top Bollywood villains who became directors when he wielded the megaphone for movies like Adhura Aadmi, Chor Police and Ameer Aadmi Ghareeb Aadmi.
6. Anand Balraj - Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai! (2012)
Anand Balraj was one of Bollywood’s lesser-known villains who got his big break in Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan after playing small supporting roles in movies like The Burning Train, Abdullah, and Sadma. He played the main villain in Bhabhi, Saudagar, Vishwatma, Bomb Blast and Pardes, and later directed the comedy-drama Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai! starring himself opposite Veena Malik.
7. Roopesh Kumar – Hai Meri Jaan (1991), Meri Aan (1993)
Known for playing the bad man in Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta, Chacha Bhatija, The Great Gambler, Bade Dil Wala, Guru, Zakhmi Aurat, and Mujrim, Roopesh Kumar turned director with the Kumar Gaurav – Ayesha Jhulka starrer Hai Meri Jaan in 1991. He also directed the Ayub Khan – Farheen starrer Meri Aan. Unfortunately, both films tanked at the box office which put an end to his acting career as well.
8. Puneet Issar – Garv: Pride & Honour (2004), I Am Singh (2011)
Mostly known for playing the villain in Amitabh Bachchan’s Coolie and Duryodhan in B.R. Chopra’s TV serial Mahabharat, Punnet Issar has come a long way in his four-decade-long career. Some of his famous villainous roles have been in films like Janbaaz, Dahleez, Zakhmi Aurat, Hathyar, Kal Ki Awaz, and others. Puneet turned director with the Salman Khan cop drama Garv: Pride & Honour in 2004. His other directorial was I Am Singh which dealt with the oppression of Sikhs and Asians in post-9/11 America.
9. Nana Patekar – Prahaar: The Final Attack (1991), Vadh (2002)
Nana Patekar has played the lead, supporting as well as villainous roles in his five-decade-long career. He has played some unforgettable villains in films such as Parinda, Angaar, Agnisakshi, Wajood, Shagird, Apaharan, etc. that have fetched him many prestigious awards. He made his directorial debut in 1991 with the critically acclaimed action drama Prahaar which starred himself, Dimple Kapadia and Madhuri Dixit. His other directorial reportedly was the action thriller Vadh which was credited to three directors N.S.R. – Nana Patekar, Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Raj Bharat.
10. Mazhar Khan – Gang (2000)
One of Bollywood’s well-known villains of the 80s and 90s was Mazhar Khan who marked his acting debut in Ramesh Sippy’s Shaan in 1980. After playing the lead in a couple of films he turned to villainous characters in popular films like Ek Hi Bhool, Zameen Aasman, Gangvaa, Aandhi-Toofan, Ghulami, Bhavani Junction, and Angaar. His solo directorial was Gang which was left incomplete due to his sudden demise in 1998. The movie later was completed by his assistant Mashkoor Chowdhry and released in 2000.
11. Parmeet Sethi – Badmaash Company (2010)
Another actor–villain turned director was Parmeet Sethi who marked his acting debut in Aditya Chopra’s blockbuster movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995. He thereafter appeared mostly playing villainous characters in films like Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, Dhadkan, Lakshya, Kaal, Rustom and later shifted to direction with Badmaash Company in 2010 starring Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma. He has also directed the TV series Sumit Sambhal Lega and Har Mard Ka Dard.
12. Bharat Kapoor – Raeeszada (1990), Barsaat Ki Raat (1998)
Many may not know but Bharat Kapoor was a famous villain of the 70s,80s and 90s. Bharat Kapoor started off playing supporting roles in films like Badnam Farishte, Hanste Zakhm, Jangal Mein Mangal before switching to villainous roles in movies like Inkaar, Noorie, Nakhuda, Bazaar, Qayamat, Ghulami and Aakhree Raasta. He turned director with the Govinda starrer Raeeszada in 1990 which was followed by Barsaat Ki Raat in 1998.
13. Shiva Rindani – Raqt (2013), Kandy Twist (2019)
Often seen as the main villain in ‘B’ or ‘C’ grade films or as the sidekick of the main villain, Shiva Rindani has come a long way in his Bollywood career since appearing in movies like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Aakhri Ghulam, Taqdeer Ka Tamasha, Hum, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Daraar and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. The villain turned director so far has directed two movies namely – Raqt and Kandy Twist, both in the horror, mystery, and thriller genres.
14. Prakash Raj – Tadka (2022)
Last but not least to join the list of top Bollywood villains who turned directors is none other than Prakash Raj. Prakash Raj who primarily works in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films is also a producer and director who made his directorial debut with the Telugu and Tamil bilingual film Dhoni. He later directed the multilingual film Oggarane (in Kannada), Ulavacharu Biryani (in Telugu) and Un Samayal Arayil (in Tamil). After playing the regular villain in Hindi movies like Khakee, Wanted, Singham, Dabangg 2, Policegiri, Golmaal Again, Zanjeer, Singh Saab The Great, etc., he went on to wield the megaphone for the Nana Patekar – Ali Fazal – Shriya Saran – Taapsee Pannu starrer Tadka that had an OTT release in 2022.
