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Kabir Khan (director)

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Kabir Khan
Khan in 2022
Born (1968-09-14) 14 September 1968 (age 56)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh,(now in Telangana), India[1]
Alma materKirori Mal College, Delhi University
Jamia Millia Islamia
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
SpouseMini Mathur
Children2
ParentRasheeduddin Khan
RelativesVijay Krishna Acharya (brother-in-law)

Kabir Khan is an Indian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer who works in Hindi cinema. He started his career working in documentary films, and then made his feature film directorial debut in 2006 with the adventure thriller Kabul Express (2006). He is best known for directing New York (2009), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), and 83 (2021). His latest film Chandu Champion (2024) was released on 14 June 2024 opening to positive reviews. This was his second sports biopic after 83 and after The Diplomat (2025).

He is the board member of Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image.[2]

Early life and background

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Khan was born to a Muslim Urdu speaking father, Rasheeduddin Khan, and a Hindu Telugu-speaking mother, Leela Narayan Rao. Rasheeduddin, who was a Pathan hailing from Kaimganj in Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh, was a nephew of Dr. Zakir Hussain (President of India – 1967 to 1969) and a communist politician favored by Indira Gandhi as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha at a relatively young age, in the early 1970s. His sister, Anusheh, is married to film-maker Vijay Krishna Acharya, director of films like Tashan and Dhoom 3.[3]

Khan studied at Kirori Mal College of Delhi University, as well as Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi.[4] He is married to television host & actress Mini Mathur, with whom he has 2 children,[5] Vivaan and Sairah.[6]

In initial days, he worked with prominent journalist Saeed Naqvi.[7] Before becoming a full-time filmmaker he worked with Saeed Naqvi as a cameraman and director and travelled around the world covering international issues. He travelled to about 60 countries with Saeed Naqvi and shot interviews and documentaries for him. During his work as a cinematographer, he had the opportunity to meet world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro.[8][7]

Film career

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Initial work and directorial breakthrough (1996-2012)

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Khan started his career at age 25 as a cinematographer for the Discovery Channel documentary film Beyond the Himalayas (1996) directed by Gautam Ghosh. He then made his own directorial debut with the documentary The Forgotten Army (1999) based on Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army. He then directed two more documentaries before shifting his focus to mainstream cinema.[9]

Khan made his mainstream directorial debut with the Yash Raj Films-backed adventure thriller Kabul Express (2006). Starring John Abraham and Arshad Warsi in lead roles, the film received mixed-to-positive reviews upon release, but emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office.[10] It, however, earned Khan the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.

His next directorial venture, the action thriller Ek Tha Tiger (2012), again starring Kaif alongside Salman Khan, marked the end of his 3-film deal with Yash Raj Films. The first instalment in the YRF Spy Universe, the film received positive reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[11]

Film production and screenwriting (2015-present)

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After his 3-film deal with Yash Raj Films ended, Khan set up his own production company, and ventured into mainstream screenwriting with the adventure comedy-drama Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor in lead roles. The film received widespread critical acclaim upon release, and emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office, emerging as the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, and currently ranks as the third highest-grossing Hindi film of all time and the seventh highest-grossing Indian film of all time. It also won him the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, in addition to earning him his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.[12][13] Asked about the films use of the phrase Jai Shri Ram, he said that when he grew up, Jai Shri Ram was a benevolent expression, "rooted in our culture", but that the words have become aggressive, and that "it bothers me to see how we are becoming increasingly intolerant."[14][15]

After the widespread critical and commercial success of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, he collaborated with Kaif for the third time, alongside Saif Ali Khan in the action thriller Phantom (2015). The film was based on Hussain Zaidi's book Mumbai Avengers which revolved around the aftermath of 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It received mixed reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as a below-average grosser at the box-office.[16]

Khan again collaborated with Salman for the third time on the war drama Tubelight (2017), an official remake of the 2015 American film Little Boy, which was based in the backdrop of the 1962 Sino-Indian war and marked the Hindi film debut of Chinese actress Zhu Zhu, with a worldwide release in June 2017. The film, just like the original, met with negative reviews, but was slightly better received for its direction and Salman's performance. It also emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office.[17]

In 2021, he directed the biographical sports drama 83, based on India's historic victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup, with Ranveer Singh plays the role of Kapil Dev, the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team. The film received widespread critical acclaim upon release, and earned Khan his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.[18] Made on a budget of ₹270 crore, the film only managed a worldwide gross collection of ₹190.86 crore and was deemed a box-office bomb.[19]

His next film was the Kartik Aaryan starrer sports biopic Chandu Champion which released on 14 June 2024.[20] The film is based on the life and achievements of the boxer turned Paralympic gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar, including his historic triumph at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany. Like 83, it received positive reviews but underperformed at the box office, grossing ₹88 crore against a budget of ₹100−140 crore.[21][22]

He is also set to direct The Zookeeper, a Sino-Indian production.[23][24] It is a travel-related drama film which is being shot in the Chinese city of Chengdu its the surrounding regions.[25][26] The film has an estimated budget of $25 million (₹185 crore), and it will star a leading Indian actor and a leading Chinese actress.[27]

Filmography

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Year Work Credited as Notes Producers
Director Producer Writer
1996 Beyond the Himalayas No No No Documentary; Cinematographer
1999 The Forgotten Army Yes No No Documentary
2006 Kabul Express Yes No Yes Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director Yash Raj Films
2009 New York Yes No No
2012 Ek Tha Tiger Yes No Yes First Installment in the YRF Spy Universe
2015 Bajrangi Bhaijaan Yes Yes No National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment

Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Director

Eros International
Salman Khan Films
Rockline Venkatesh
Kabir Khan
Phantom Yes No Yes Sajid Nadiadwala
Siddharth Roy Kapur
2017 Tubelight Yes Yes Yes Salman Khan Films
Kabir Khan
2020 The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye Yes Yes Yes Web Series Amazon Studios
Kabir Khan
2021 83 Yes Yes Yes Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Director Kabir Khan
Deepika Padukone
Vishnu Vardhan Induri
Sajid Nadiadwala
Madhu Mantena
Reliance Entertainment
2024 Chandu Champion Yes Yes No Kabir Khan
Sajid Nadiadwala
2025 The Diplomat Yes No No

Frequent collaborations

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Artists Kabul Express
(2006) 		New York
(2009) 		Ek Tha Tiger
(2012) 		Bajrangi Bhaijaan
(2015) 		Phantom
(2015) 		Tubelight
(2017) 		83
(2021) 		Chandu Champion
(2024) 		The Diplomat
(2025)
Salman Khan Yes Yes Yes
Katrina Kaif Yes Yes Yes
John Abraham Yes Yes Yes
Sunny Deol Yes
Roshan Seth Yes Yes
Nawazuddin Siddiqui Yes Yes
Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub Yes Yes
Om Puri Yes Yes
Pritam Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Julius Packiam Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
KK Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Awards and nominations

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Film Award Category Result Ref
Kabul Express 54th National Film Awards Best Debut Director Won [28]
2007 Asian First Film Festival Swarovski Trophy for Best Director Won [29]
[30]
"Purple Orchid" Award for the Best Film Won
New York 33rd Cairo International Film Festival Golden Pyramid Award for Best Film Nominated
Ek Tha Tiger Stardust Awards 2013 Hottest New Filmmaker Won
3rd BIG Star Entertainment Awards Most Entertaining Director Nominated
Bajrangi Bhaijaan 63rd National Film Awards Best Popular Film with Entertainment (share with Salman Khan and Rockline Venkatesh) Won [31]
61st Filmfare Awards Best Director Nominated [32]
2015 Stardust Awards Best Film of the Year Won [33]
[34]
Best Director Won
Best Screenplay (with Vijayendra Prasad) Nominated
Big Star Entertainment Awards 2015 Most Entertaining Social Film Nominated [35]
[36]
Most Entertaining Director Won
Indian Telly Awards Gary Binder Award for the Young Successful Director of the Year Won
Indian Television Academy Awards Popular Director Won
17th IIFA Awards Best Film Won [37]
Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay (with Parveez Shaikh) Won
11th Apsara Awards Best Film Won [38]
Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
22nd Screen Awards Best Film Won [39]
Best Director Won
83 22nd IIFA Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Best Story Won
67th Filmfare Awards Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Dialogue Nominated
— Bollywood Hungama Style Icons Most Stylish Filmmaker Nominated [40]

References

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  1. ^ "Kabir Khan: Salman has no complexity and no complex". The Times of India. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Mumbai Academy of Moving Image - Trustees Site". www.mumbaifilmfestival.com.
  3. ^ "MFF 17, by Jio-MAMI, Festival Diary, III | Filmfestivals.com". filmfestivals.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Kabir Khan filmography". Archived from the original on 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  5. ^ "How did Kabir Khan marry Mini Mathur?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  6. ^ Post New York Kabir Khan busy babysitting Hindustan Times, 7 July 2009
  7. ^ a b "'I've not met a more charismatic man than Mandela'". Rediff. Retrieved 11 September 2021. In 1995, I got the opportunity to assist Saeed Naqvi, a senior journalist who was shooting a documentary in South Africa on the role of people of Indian origin in the African National Congress
  8. ^ "'Ek Tha Tiger is my most political film'". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Kabul Express is based on my experiences". Rediff.com. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Kabul Express - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Ek Tha Tiger - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  12. ^ "63rd National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Salman and Kareena come together for Bajrangi Bhaijaan". The Indian Express. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  14. ^ Singh, Harneet (24 July 2015). "'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' director Kabir Khan: I needed Salman Khan's superstardom to discuss the Hindu-Muslim issue". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  15. ^ Ovial, Devyani (6 August 2020). "Explained: From assertive 'Jai Shri Ram', a reason to move to gentler 'Jai Siya Ram'". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Phantom - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Tubelight - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  18. ^ "83 Movie Review: FIVE reasons why you should not miss Kabir Khan's sports drama starring Ranveer Singh". The Times of India. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. ^ Subhash K Jha (4 January 2022). "Why 83 underperformed at the box office: More docudrama than masala, high ticket prices, no youth connect, third wave". Firstpost.
  20. ^ PTI (4 July 2023). "Kartik Aaryan-Kabir Khan's film titled 'Chandu Champion', to release in June 2024". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Chandu Champion Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  22. ^ Soni, Narendra (14 June 2024). "जानें कितना है चंदू चैंपियन का बजट, कितनी ली कार्तिक आर्यन ने फीस और ब्लॉकबस्टर बनने के लिए फिल्म को कमाने होंगे कितने करोड़" [Know what is the budget of Chandu Champion, how much fee did Kartik Aaryan take and how many crore will the film have to earn to become a blockbuster]. NDTV (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Eros International Announces Indian Subsidiary Results". Business Wire. 23 May 2018.
  24. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (20 May 2019). "Contrary to reports in Chinese media, Kabir Khan's Indo-China film The Zookeeper won't release in January 2020 :Latest Bollywood News – Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  25. ^ "After Tubelight, Kabir Khan to shoot his next film Zookeeper in China". The Indian Express. 23 May 2017.
  26. ^ Wang, Yue (5 February 2018). "Chinese Moviegoers Are Developing Diversified Tastes, Which Doesn't Bode Well For Hollywood". Forbes. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Eros International's Trinity Pictures Announces Two Indo-Chinese Co-Productions with Leading Chinese Film Companies, Peacock Mountain Culture & Media Ltd and Huaxia Film Distribution Co. Ltd". Business Wire. 15 July 2016.
  28. ^ "54th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Asian Festival of 1st Films 2007 & 2009". asianfirstfilms.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  30. ^ "List of Awards won by Kabul Express movie". yashrajfilms.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Call for entries; 63rd National Film Awards for 2015" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  32. ^ "Nominations for the 61st Britannia Filmfare Awards". Filmfare. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  33. ^ "Nominations for Stardust Awards 2015". Bollywood Hungama. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Out now: Complete winners list of Stardust Awards 2015". indiatvnews. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Winners of the Big Star Entertainment Awards 2015". Bollywood Hungama. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  36. ^ "Big Star Entertainment Awards 2015 Nominations List". filmibeat. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  37. ^ "Deepika, Ranveer starrer 'Bajirao Mastani' leads IIFA 2016 nominations". The Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  38. ^ "Winners of 11th Renault Sony Guild Awards". Bollywood Hungama. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  39. ^ Sharma, Smrity (1 January 2017). "22nd Screen Awards: When Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan tried to do an Aamir Khan but failed miserably!". India.com. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  40. ^ "Complete List of Winners of Bollywood Hungama Style Icon Awards". Bollywood Hungama.
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