Top Cinematographers Who Went On To Become Successful Directors
Posted On: 17 Oct 2022 | Last Updated : 13 Dec 2022 | Views : 1.5k
Film direction is the art of converting mere imagination into visual reality, and therefore, a director is expected to have extensive knowledge about different aspects of filmmaking to make it a blockbuster. Therefore, people from different backgrounds or career areas may have the ability to be a director, just if they have enough capability of making things look best on-screen. While most start their careers as assistant directors to understand the art of film direction, others start their careers as screen-writer, editors, or even cinematographers, and become top Bollywood directors. Over the years, many cinematographers have tried their luck in film direction in Bollywood, while some became successful, others weren’t so successful in this career, and went back to being cinematographers again. We present to you the list of top Bollywood cinematographers who turned directors. Stay tuned with us to get more Bollywood updates, articles, topics, and trivia related to movies and celebrities.
1. R. D. Mathur
Bollywood cinematographer turned director, R. D. Mathur started his career in Bollywood as a cinematographer with the 1941 film Anjan, and went on to work in many Bollywood movies as a cinematographer. His works as a cinematographer include Basant (1942), Gajre (1948), Sunghursh (1968), Heera (1973), Ganga Ki Saugand (1978), Razia Sultan (1983), and many more. He started his career as a Bollywood director with the 1948 movie Gajre, starring Motilal and Suraiya, and later directed Magroor (1950) and Aaghosh (1953).
2. Radhu Karmakar
Noted Indian cinematographer and director, Radhu Karmakar predominantly worked in Bollywood from the 1940s to 1990s, and worked extensively with filmmaker Raj Kapoor or R. K. Studios. As a cinematographer, he worked in several movies like Jwar Bhata (1944), Awaara (1951), Jagte Raho (1956), Shree 420 (1955), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Prem Rog (1982), Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) and many more. He made his directorial debut with the 1960 romantic drama Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai, starring Raj Kapoor and Padmini. However, it was his only directorial venture.
3. P. C. Barua
P.C. Barua is another cinematographer who became a director in Bollywood. He was an Indian actor, director, cinematographer and screenwriter, who was active in the film industry in the pre-independence era. Born in Assam, P. C. Barua was said to step into Bollywood accidentally. He started his career as a screenwriter for movies like Devdas (1935), Mukti (1938), Adhikar (1939), etc. Later, he went on to act in movies and also worked as a cinematographer in the 1940 film Zindagi. Multi-talented P.C. Barua acted, directed and wrote his movies. He directed movies like Devdas (1936), Manzil (1936), Mukti (1937), Jawab (1942) and many more.
4. Fali Mistry
One of the cinematographers turned directors in Bollywood, Fali Mistry had a career in Bollywood that spanned over four decades, starting from the 1940s. He started his career as a cinematographer in the black and white era of Bollywood. He gained fame with his work in Amrapali (1945), directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal. Later, he worked as a cinematographer in movies like Prem Pujari (1970), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Heera Panna (1973), Do Premee (1980) and many more. He even tried his luck in film direction, and directed movies like Jan Pahechan (1950), Sazaa (1951), and Armaan (1953).
5. Bimal Roy
If there ever were a list of top 10 cinematographers turned directors in Bollywood, Bimal Roy would surely make it to the list. Born in West Bengal, Bimal Roy moved to Calcutta to make his way to the film industry. He started his career as a cinematographer in the 1944 Bengali film Udayer Pathey. Later, he moved to Mumbai, and made his debut in Bollywood as a cinematographer with the 1945 film Hamrahi. Later, he tried his luck in film direction and went on to direct films, like Maa (1952), Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Devdas (1955), Madhumati (1958), Sujata (1959), Parakh (1960), Bandini (1963) and many more.
6. Ravikant Nagaich
Regarded as an important personality of the Indian film industry, Ravikant Nagaich was a cinematographer and director. He started his career as a cinematographer with the Telugu film Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam in 1961. In Bollywood, he made his debut as a director and cinematographer in the 1967 action drama Farz, starring Jeetendra and Babita. In his Bollywood career, he has worked as cinematographer in most of the films directed by him, like The Train (1970), Himmat (1970), Pyar Ki Kahani (1971), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Keemat (1973), Kaala Sona (1975), Surakksha (1979), etc.
7. Pravin Bhatt
Pravin Bhatt is the Indian director, screenwriter and cinematographer, whose career spanned over four decades, starting from the 1960s. Son of producer-director Vijay Bhatt, Pravin Bhatt started his career as a cameraman with the 1960s film Aur Rasta (1962), directed by Vijay Bhatt. He later got a break as a cinematographer in the 1965 film Himalay Ki Godmein (1965). He has shot most of Mahesh Bhatt’s films, and his son, Vikram Bhatt’s films. Some of his works include Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979), Umrao Jaan (1981), Masoom (1983), Aitbaar (1985), Kaash (1987), Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati (1988), Sadak (1991), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Raaz 3D (2012) and many more. Pravin Bhatt also tried his luck in direction, and made his directorial debut with the 1984 Shabana Azmi starrer film Bhavna, and also directed Khoon Bahaa Ganga Mein (1988) and Ek Hi Maqsad (1988).
8. Ashok Mehta
The noted National Film Award winning cinematographer, Ashok Mehta is one of the top Bollywood cinematographers who became directors. Ashok Mehta was said to have a difficult journey from rags to riches, as he left his home at the age of 14 with no money, and travelled to Mumbai with big dreams. He started as a canteen boy, and after a long struggle, got a chance to be a DOP. He got his first break as a cinematographer at the age of 25 in Raj Marbros’ The Witness (1972). He went on to work in more Bollywood movies as a cinematographer that include - Hamare Tumhare (1979), Mandi (1983), Trikaal (1985), Saudagar (1991), Bandit Queen (1994), Chalte Chalte (2003), No Entry (2005) Family (2006) and many more. In 2000, he made his directorial debut with the crime drama Moksha, featuring Arjun Rampal and Manisha Koirala, which still remains his only film as a director.
9. Govind Nihalani
Govind Nihalani is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer and cinematographer, who has predominantly worked in Bollywood. Recipient of several accolades, including National Film Award and Filmfare Award, Govind Nihalani started his career as an assistant cinematographer, and assisted legendary V.K. Murthy. As an independent cinematographer, his first film was Ankur (1974), which was followed by Nishant (1975), Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), Ardh Satya (1983), Vijeta (1983), Pita (1991), Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), and many more. He made his directorial debut with the 1980 film Aakrosh, and also directed movies like Ardh Satya (1983), Tamas (1988), Rukmavati Ki Haveli (1991), Drohkaal (1994) and many more.
10. Lawrence D’Souza
Lawrence D’Souza is an Indian film director, who started his career as a cinematographer with the 1985 film Yaar Kasam. Other movies in which he worked as cinematographer include Madadgaar (1987), Hatya (1988), and Maarg (1992). Later, he made his directorial debut with the 1990 action drama Nyay Anyay, starring Jeetendra and Jaya Prada. He has also directed movies like Saajan (1991), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Sapne Sajan Ke (1992), Balmaa (1993), Prateeksha (1993), Maahir (1996), Papi Gudia (1996) and many more.
11. Binod Pradhan
Born in Kalimpong, West Bengal, Binod Pradhan is an Indian actor, director and cinematographer who has worked in Marathi, Assamese and Hindi films. He started his career as a cinematographer with the 1976 Marathi film Ghashiram Kotwal. In Bollywood, he made his debut with the 1983 dark satire Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. Other Bollywood films, in which he did cinematography, include Parinda (1989), Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Mission Kashmir (2000), Devdas (2002), Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003), Rang De Basanti (2006), Delhi 6 (2009), 2 States (2014), Kalank (2019), and many more. He made his directorial debut with the 2015 romantic comedy Wedding Pullav, which yet remains the only film under his direction.
12. Manmohan Singh
The top Bollywood cinematographer who became director, Manmohan Singh has worked as cinematographer in many movies with Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra. He has done cinematography in movies like Chandni (1989), Chaalbaaz (1989), Darr (1993), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Maachis (1996), Mohabbatein (2000), and many more. He also won the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer for Chandni (1990) and Darr (1994). The cinematographer then tried his luck in direction and went on to direct the Rishi Kapoor and Tabu starrer Pehla Pehla Pyar (1994) and Punjabi films like Jee Aayan Nu (2003), Mere Pind (2008), Ik Kudi Punjab Di (2010), etc.
13. Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan is an Indian cinematographer, director, actor and producer, who has predominantly worked in Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil films. He started his career as a cinematographer in the 1986 Malayalam film Nidhiyude Katha. He then made his Bollywood debut with the 1989 action film Raakh. He has worked as a cinematographer in various Bollywood films, like Gardish (1993), Barsaat (1995), Halo (1996), Dil Se.. (1998), Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000) and many more. The 2001 historical epic drama Asoka, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor, marked his directorial debut in Bollywood. Other Bollywood movies directed by him include Tahaan (2008) and Mumbaikar (2022).
14. Anil Mehta
One of the best cinematographers turned directors in Bollywood, Anil Mehta started his career as a cinematographer with the 1994 Indo-German film The Cloud Door. Later, he did cinematography for movies like Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Lagaan (2001), Saathiya (2002), Veer-Zaara (2004), Rockstar (2011), Cocktail (2012), Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), Highway (2014) and many more. After the first few years of being the cinematographer, Anil Mehta made his directorial debut with the 2007 dance film Aaja Nachle, starring Madhuri Dixit, however, it was his only film as director.
15. Amit Roy
Amit Roy is an Indian director, cinematographer and writer, who has worked in several Bollywood movies. He started his career as a cinematographer with the 2003 romantic comedy drama Ishq Vishk, starring Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao. It was followed by his other works as a cinematographer, which includes Shaadi Ka Laddoo (2004), Fida (2004), Darna Zaroori Hai (2006), Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag (2007), Dus Kahaniyaan (2007), Sarkar Raj (2008), Shabri (2011) Love Aaj Kal 2 (2020) and many more. He tried his luck in film direction and made his directorial debut with the 2017 romantic comedy Running Shaadi, starring Amit Sadh and Taapsee Pannu.
16. Sudarshan Nag
Sudarshan Nag too joins the list of top Bollywood cinematographers who went on to become directors. He started his Bollywood career as a cameraman for director B.R. Ishara’s Milap in 1972. He later went on to handle the cinematography for popular films like Zehreela Insaan, Bhayaanak, Chunaoti, Ghazab, Shaktiman and Maidan-E-Jung, etc. He turned director with the Shatrughan Sinha and Rajinikanth starrer Asli Naqli in 1986 and thereafter wielded the megaphone for popular films like Insaaf Kaun Karega, Dharamyudh and Shankara, etc.
17. Laxman Utekar
Laxman Utekar started his Bollywood career as a cinematographer in 2007 with the rom-com Khanna & Iyer. He got his big break with Gauri Shinde’s Sridevi starrer English Vinglish which also helped him bag the director’s next venture which was Dear Zindagi starring Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt. After handling the camera for Hindi Medium & 102 Not Out he forayed into direction with Luka Chuppi starring Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon and Mimi which also starred Kriti Sanon. Though both movies were successful in their own respective way Laxman Utekar so far hasn’t handled the camera while directing any of his films.
18. Nitin Bose
Nitin Bose joins the elite list of cinematographers turned directors in Bollywood. Known as a screenwriter too, he started his career as a cinematographer in the late 30s and early 40s for New Theatres, who made bilingual movies in Bengali as well as Hindi. He is credited for using playback singing in Hindi films which started with Dhoop Chhaon (1935). His first Hindi film where he handled the camera was Devdas (1928) and went on to cinematograph movies like Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933), Dhoop Chhaon (1935), Badi Bahen (1937), Dharti Mata (1938), Dushman (1938), and Parichay (1941), after which he concentrated only on directing films. He made his directorial debut with Daku Mansoor in 1934 and thereafter directed hits such as Mujrim (1944), Mazdoor (1945), Deedar (1951), Waris (1954), Kathputli (1957), Gunga Jumna (1961) and Dooj Ka Chand (1964), etc.
