Best Directors in Bollywood: Based on IMDb Ratings

In the second part of the series, we list the Best Directors in Bollywood based on ‘IMDb Ratings of Movies’. Internet Movie Database is the most visited movie website on internet, receiving millions of page views every day.

We have picked around 30 of the most popular directors in the industry and averaged the ratings of their LAST 5 films. Filmmakers who have directed less than 3 movies were not considered.

If we have missed out on a popular Bollywood director, please post a request for inclusion in the comments section below.

Let’s get straight down to the list then. No prizes for guessing the name of the directors who take the last and top spot. Plenty of surprises in between. Read on..

40. Sajid Khan

• Humshakals – 1.9
• Himmatwala – 1.8
• Housefull 2 – 5.1
• Housefull – 4.9
• Heyy Babyy – 5.7  (best rated film)
• Average per film – 3.88 (Worst)

39. Anubhav Sinha

• Zid – 4.2
• Ra One – 4.8
• Cash – 3.4
• Tathastu – 4.6
• Dus – 5.5  (best rated film)
• Average per film – 4.5 (Poor)

38. Ram Gopal Varma

• Satya 2 – 5.9
• The Attacks of 26/11 – 6.6 (best rated film)
• Bhoot Returns – 2.6
• Department – 3.2
• Not A Love Story – 4.9
• Average per film – 4.64 (Poor)

37. Anees Bazmee

• Ready – 4.7
• Thank You – 4.5
• No Problem – 3.9
• Singh Is Kinng – 5.3 (best rated film, has received more votes than Sandwich)
• Sandwich – 5.3
• Average per film - 4.74 (Poor)

36. Prabhu Deva

• Action Jackson – 3.3
• R… Rajkumar – 5.1
• Ramaiya Vastavaiya – 5.6
• Rowdy Rathore – 5.7
• Wanted – 6.7 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 5.28 (Average)

35. Abbas-Mustan

• Race 2 – 5.3
• Players – 4.0
• Race – 6.6 (best rated film)
• Naqaab – 5.3
• 36 China Town – 5.5
• Average per film – 5.34 (Average)

34. Farah Khan

• Happy New Year – 5.6
• Tees Maar Khan – 2.4
• Om Shanti Om – 6.6
• Main Hoon Na – 7.0 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 5.4 (Average)

33. Sanjay Gupta

• Shootout at Wadala – 5.8
• Dus Kahaniyaan – 5.7
• Zinda – 4.9
• Musafir – 5.4
• Kaante – 6.5 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 5.66 (Average)

32. Rohit Shetty

• Singham Returns – 5.8
• Chennai Express – 6.0
• Bol Bachchan – 5.5
• Singham – 6.7 (best rated film)
• Golmaal 3 – 5.2
• Average per film – 5.84 (Average)

31. Sujoy Ghosh

• Kahaani – 8.3
• Aladin – 4.6
• Home Delivery – 3.4
• Jhankaar Beats – 7.3
• Average per film – 5.9 (Average)

30. Nikhil Advani

• D-Day – 7.2
• Patiala House – 5.6
• Chandni Chowk To China – 3.8
• Salaam-e-Ishq – 5.2
• Kal Ho Na Ho – 8.1
• Average per film – 5.98 (Good)

29. Madhur Bhandarkar

• Heroine – 5
• Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji – 5.7
• Jail – 6.2
• Fashion – 6.9 (best rated film)
• Traffic Signal – 6.6
• Average per film – 6.08 (Good)

28. Mohit Suri

• Hamari Adhuri Kahaani – 6.8
• Ek Villain – 6.4
• Aashiqui 2 – 7.1 (best rated film)
• Murder 2 – 6.0
• Crook: It’s Good to Be Bad – 4.9
• Average per film – 6.24 (Good)

27. Maneesh Sharma

• Shuddh Desi Romance – 5.8
• Ladies vs Ricky Bahl – 6.0
• Band Baaja Baarat – 7.4 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 6.4 (Good)

26. Rakesh Roshan

• Krrish 3 – 5.5
• Krrish – 6.3
• Koi… Mil Gaya – 7.1 (best rated film)
• Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai – 6.9
• Koyla – 6.2
• Average per film – 6.4 (Good)

25. Sooraj Barjatya

• Vivah – 6.8
• Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon – 4.0
• Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United – 6.1
• Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! – 7.6 (best rated film, has received more votes than Maine Pyar Kiya)
• Maine Pyar Kiya – 7.6
• Average per film – 6.42 (Good)

24. Anurag Basu

• Barfi! – 8.2 (best rated film)
• Kites – 6.0
• Life in a Metro – 7.4
• Gangster – 7.1
• Tumsa Nahin Dekha – 4.5
• Average per film – 6.64 (Very Good)

23. Aanand. L. Rai

• Tanu Weds Manu Returns – 8.2 (best rated film)
• Raanjhanaa – 7.6
• Tanu Weds Manu – 6.5
• Thodi Life Thoda Magic – 4.3
• Average per film – 6.65 (Very good)

22. Prakash Jha

• Satyagraha – 6.0
• Chakravyuh – 6.9
• Aarakshan – 6.2
• Raajneeti – 7.1
• Apaharan – 7.4 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 6.72 (Very Good)

21. Kabir Khan

• Bajrangi Bhaijaan – 8.4 (best rated film)
• Ek Tha Tiger – 5.3
• New York – 6.7
• Kabul Express – 6.9
• Average per film – 6.82 (Very Good)

20. Tigmanshu Dhulia

• Bullett Raja – 5.1
• Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns – 6.9
• Paan Singh Tomar – 8.3 (best rated film)
• Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster – 7.2
• Shagird – 6.9
• Average per film – 6.88 (Very Good)

19. Karan Johar

• Student of the Year – 5.4
• My Name Is Khan – 8.0 (best rated film)
• Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna – 6.0
• Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham – 7.5
• Kuch Kuch Hota Hai – 7.9
• Average per film – 6.96 (Excellent)

18. Ashutosh Gowariker (Director of Top 250 film)

• Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey – 6.0
• What’s Your Raashee? – 4.8
• Jodhaa Akbar – 7.6
• Swades – 8.3 (best rated film)
• Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India – 8.2 (included in IMDb Top 250)
• Average per film – 6.98 (Excellent)

17. Sanjay Leela Bhansali

• Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela – 6.2
• Guzaarish – 7.5
• Saawariya – 5.4
• Black – 8.3 (best rated film)
• Devdas – 7.6
• Average per film – 7 (Excellent)

16. R. Balki

• Shamitabh – 7.1
• Paa – 7.2 (best rated film)
• Cheeni Kum – 6.8
• Average per film – 7.03 (Excellent)

15. Sriram Raghavan

• Badlapur – 7.6
• Agent Vinod – 5.1
• Johnny Gaddaar – 8.0 (best rated film)
• Ek Hasina Thi – 7.7
• Average per film – 7.1 (Excellent)

14. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra

• Bhaag Milkha Bhaag – 8.4
• Delhi-6 – 6.1
• Rang De Basanti – 8.4 (best rated film, has received more votes than Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)
• Aks – 5.6
• Average per film – 7.13 (Excellent)

13. Vishal Bhardwaj

• Haider – 8.4 (best rated film)
• Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola – 5.8
• 7 Khoon Maaf – 6.2
• Kaminey – 7.5
• Blood Brothers – 7.9
• Average per film – 7.16 (Excellent)

12. Mani Ratnam

• Raavan – 5.3
• Guru – 7.8
• Yuva – 7.5
• Dil Se – 7.8
• Bombay – 8.0 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 7.28 (Excellent)

11. Zoya Akhtar

• Dil Dhadakne Do – 6.9
• Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara – 8.1 (best rated film)
• Luck by Chance – 7.1
• Average per film – 7.37 (Excellent)

10. Anurag Kashyap

• Bombay Velvet – 5.9
• Ugly – 8.2
• Gangs of Wasseypur – 8.4 (best rated film)
• That Girl in Yellow Boots – 6.7
• Gulaal – 8.1
• Average per film – 7.46 (Excellent)

9. Yash Chopra

• Jab Tak Hai Jaan – 6.9
• Veer-Zaara – 7.9
• Dil To Pagal Hai – 7.1
• Darr – 8.0 (best rated film)
• Lamhe – 7.4
• Average per film – 7.46 (Excellent)

8. Aditya Chopra

• Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – 7.1
• Mohabbatein – 7.1
• Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge – 8.3 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 7.5 (Excellent)

7. Imtiaz Ali

• Highway – 7.6
• RockStar – 7.6
• Love Aaj Kal – 6.8
• Jab We Met – 8.0 (best rated film)
• Socha Na Tha – 7.7
• Average per film – 7.54 (Excellent)

6. Farhan Akhtar

• Don 2 – 7.1
• Don – 7.2
• Lakshya – 7.9
• Dil Chahta Hai – 8.2 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 7.6 (Excellent)

5. Shoojit Sircar

• Piku – 7.8
• Madras Cafe – 7.8
• Vicky Donor – 7.8 (best rated film, most votes received)
• Yahaan – 7.4
• Average per film – 7.7 (Excellent)

4. Dibakar Banerjee

• Detective Byomkesh Bakshi – 7.9
• Shanghai – 7.3
• Love Sex Aur Dhokha – 7.2
• Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! – 7.9
• Khosla Ka Ghosla – 8.4 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 7.74 (Excellent)

3. Shimit Amin

• Rocket Singh – 7.5
• Chak De India – 8.4 (best rated film)
• Ab Tak Chappan – 8.0
• Average per film – 7.97 (Outstanding)

2. Neeraj Pandey

• Baby – 8.3
• Special 26 – 7.9
• A Wednesday – 8.4 (best rated film)
• Average per film – 8.2 (Outstanding)

1. Rajkumar Hirani (Director of Top 250 film)

• PK – 8.4
• 3 Idiots – 8.5 (Best rated film of Hirani, Best rated Bollywood film, IMDb Top 250)
• Lage Raho Munna Bhai – 8.2
• Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. – 8.3
• Average per film – 8.35 (Outstanding, Universal Acclaim, All films ranked above 8)