Ayan Mukherjee

Ayan Mukherjee, credited as Ayan Deb Mukerji, is an Indian director and producer who makes Hindi films. He is best known for Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Brahmastra Part One: Shiva, and for his work with actor Ranbir Kapoor under Karan Johar's company Dharma Productions. His top honour is the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director. Mukherjee started his directing career in 2009 with Wake Up Sid, a coming-of-age story about a young man finding his way. Critics liked it and it did well at the box office. In 2013 he followed it with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, a romantic comedy-drama that became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films. In 2022 he directed and produced Brahmastra Part One: Shiva, a fantasy action-adventure that also joined the ranks of the highest-grossing Hindi films. Mukherjee is known for a strong creative partnership with Ranbir Kapoor and a long working bond with Dharma Productions. His films move across very different kinds of stories, from a gentle tale of growing up to a romantic drama and a large fantasy adventure. Each of his three films as director earned him a Filmfare nomination for Best Director, and his first film won him the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director.