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)
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Nice article indicine….:)
Plz post an article on directors in which the rating will be based on collections
my favourite director’s-
1. Sooraj badjatya
2. kabir khan
3. sanjay leela bhansaali
4. rajkumar hirani
5. Anees bazmi
6. Prabhu deva.
Imdb users are only high class peoples so how can they like mass oriented movies. ready 4 plus! because of srk fans.
Best directors according to me
1. Raju hirani
2. Viahal bharadvaj
3. Ashutosh gowarikar
4. Late legend yash Chopra
5. Suraj barjatya
6. Kabir khan
7. Rakesh om prakash mahera
8. Anand rai
9. Zoya akhtar
10. Rakesh roahan
Wannabe so called good directors as well as overrated directors
1. Karan johar
2. Anurag kashyap
3. Aditya Chopra
4. Sanjay leela bhansali
5. R Balki
6. Imtiaz ali
7. Ayan mukherji
8. Karan malhotra
9. Farhan akhtar ( because of crap CON 2)
10. Anurag Basu
Worst directors of all time
1. Rohit SHITty
2. Sajid khan
3. Farah khan
4. Prabhu deva
5. Soheil khan
6. Arbaaz khan
7. Victor
8. Shirish
9. RGV
10. Anne’s Bazmi
Both The Film was Written by One Writer,S. S. Rajamouliand Both have Created History at Box Office India. Bajrangi BhaijaanandBaahubaliare Doing Fantastic Business Worldwide and Collecting Huge Amount. Media Since Last Few Days has Started Comparing Two Film’s Collection But Not In The Right Way. A Lot of Friends are Asking Me to Write About It So Here it Is. Read On.
But Before You Look at The Comparison, I Want You Guys to Keep Some Facts In Your Mind.
*.BB is a Hindi Film and was Released in Only 1 Language While on The Other Hand Baahubali was Dubbed and Released in 4 Languages.
*.Baahubali is a Telugu Film and for Regional Films Like This do not Need to Pay Entertainment Tax in North India Whereas For BB Entertainment Tax was 50%. Baahubali does Pay 15% Tax in Home State, Telugu.
*.That Means If Baahubali Earns 1 crores, The Nett Collection is 1 crores But If BB Earns 1 crores, 50% Goes Towards Entertainment Tax to The Government and The Nett Collection Becomes 0.50 crore.
*.The Budget of BB is Around 75 cores (Without P&A) While Two Parts of Baahubali have been Made for a Huge Budget of Around 250 crores.
India Nett Business :
Bajrangi Bhaijaan : 169.05 cr (in 6 Days) (50% Tax)
Baahubali : 254 cr (in 12 Days) (No Tax in North India)
Overseas Collection :
Bajrangi Bhaijaan : Around 77 cr (in 6 Days)
Baahubali : 59 cr (in 12 Days)
India Gross Figure :
Bajrangi Bhaijaan : Around 230 cr (in 6 Days)
Baahubali : 304 cr (in 12 Days)
300 cr Worldwide Gross :
Bajrangi Bhaijaan : Crossed in 6 Days
Baahubali : Crossed in 9 Days
TOTAL Worldwide Gross :
Bajrangi Bhaijaan : Around 306 cr (in 6 Days)
Baahubali : 360 cr (in 12 Days)
I Hope This is Clear Now. Please Do Share This Post with Your Friends, On Your Facebook Timeline and Let Everyone Know The Actual Truth. Media is Spreading False News So You Make Sure That People Know The Truth. Thanks for Reading…
Where is Shyam Benegal,David dhawan,Subhash Ghai? And I think legendary directors like Raj Kapoor,Guru Dutt,Raj Khosla,Satyajit Ray,Prakash mehra,manmohan Desai,K Asif,Mehmoob khan, Hrishikesh Mukherjee,Chetan Anand and many more should also be included..It will be interesting to see the verdict of today’s generation for movies made by these cult directors
hirani is the best director i agree. but ddlj will be the best movie of all time for me.
@james : If Sawaan is Salman Khan movie then SRk bola Khoobsurat hai toh & LZB are Srk movies !!!!! Lol on your hypocrisy !!!!!!
@sss : Your list as stupid as you. Is mein bhi SALMAN ka revenge. Looks like BB success has impacted your mental health big time. Another chance gone for Srk (to achieve HGOTY). JAG SUNA SUNA LAGE !!!!!!! :-P
You now have listed 40 directors but why…. everyone knows Sajid is the worst of the worst so why degrade the Top 25 list by inc rubbish like Sajid at 40th spot…! All this bcoz thullu was whining about you missing half a dozen directors or so n you then go n inc another dozen or so names. Article at the start of the day was ok even though I wasnt interested in the top 25 list as top 10 was more important.
@Indicine you missed one of the greatest directors Priyadarshan.. Please add him..
@Masoom Baahubali and BB are written by KV Vijayendra Prasad, father of SS Rajamouli..
@eric,though I don’t have any objection of copying my format,but may I know the reason behind the list given for overrated directors ,for which reason they seem like overrated directors like you?????
I know you couldn’t because you are thinking yourself so smart.so before asking you I should write the reason why I have given overrated director’s list and why they are overrated
1.raju hirani—-non of his films has a realistic script having unrealistic mythological characters.be it’s tapori becomes doctor.tapori changed society according to BAPUJI’S DESIRE.student can be topper overnight with out studying a bit can be doctor,scientist and can be successful even by attending senior’s classes.aliens can change the society as well RELEGION according to their will.
The most overrated UNREALISTIC MOVIE director of all time.
2.sooraj barjatya—-his movies started from begining with overrated emotions and too need with overrated emotions.except VIVAH,non of his family movie seems like REALISTIC family drama like K3G .and though his overrated becomes unbearable in film mpkdh which completely made senseless audiences.and mpk,hahk,hssh all are in the same category.though peoples appreciated in 90’a big time.
3.Rakeysh on Prakash mehra—-he is expert in making a simple man to a legend.for an example in rdb,what’s the necessity of showing a group of terrorist by bo.paying them with freedom fighters who only took the revenge of their friends,simply ridiculous.in bmb,the unnecessary songs and extra masala sequences he added is proved himself completely out of mind type director of all time.
4.R.balki—-till now couldn’t have understand why he always thinks impossible could be possible all the time.which made his movie not only unrealistic but also seems overrated most of the times.
5.Farah Khan—-A superb entertainer with Her 1st 2 film with completely unmatchable Emotions with completely Logical as well Realistic sequences though why those are not CLASSICS only Indian dumb movie wat hers knows I mean at least MHN.but with tmk,HNY She proved She too can made a con person to a star in tmk and a revenge taking boxer/student to a World dance championship winner.
but @eric ,you simply trolled yourself by let down a superb movie as well directors like DON 2 and Farhan Akhtar.and you have jealous like your perfaketionist too as to act like DON in is the job of biggies like KING SRK/BIGB,amir is too small as that role is completely unmatchable so you’re right DON2 is not a good movie for you and perfaketionist is afraiding of doing negative character.
And I couldn’t stop my laugh when you further added ADITYAJI,KJO,Imtiyaz,Karan malhotra,slb like bestbdirectors.actually you’re doing superb jobs because trolling yourself is not too bad for amir ‘s unrealistic movie watchers like you,ROFL.
@ ashish thapar- briliant question bro but i dont think todays gen are intrested in those legends for them raju hirani is the only director who can make good movies.
but in your list my favourites are-
1. guru dutt
2.Raj kapoor
3. Subhash ghai
4.K asif
5. hrishikesh mukharjee
pyasa, saahib biwi aur ghulaam,jis desh mein ganga bahti hai, awara, prem rog, satyam shivam sundaram, khalnayak, hero, mughle azam, taajmahal, gol maal, guddi are my most favurite movies.
Navin uncle ki jal gyi..hahaha
Worst Actors Of All Time.
1- Mithun
2- Sarook
3-Tushar Kapoor
4-Arjun Rampal
5-Chunkey Pandey.
Worst Directors Of All Time.
1- Farah Bhains
2- Karan Johar
3- Sajid Khan
4- Aditya Chopra (3 Crap Movies)
5-Rohit ShettyShetty.
Worst Movies Of All Time.
1- Ra-1
2-Humshakals
3-Joker
4-Hny
5-Ce
6-Rgv Ki Aag
7-Jthj
8-Himmatwala
9-Tmk
10-Mnik.
@SSS I first of all miss most of your comments because I don’t want to lower my own IQ for pseudo fools like you. So don’t bother replying me because I wont read your crap comments. Your list sucks as much as sajid khan’s direction. But as far as I have read initial part of your comments, all I want to tell you is God Bless You Fool!!!!
@sss you duffer, who are you to call a class director like raju hirani as overrated or unrealistic? What the f do you know about calss? What do you find so special in crap overrated directors like Rohit shetty who show fake mindless cars blowing show or a man standing on 2 cars at same space. What an illogical crap director rohit is. Raju’s movies have impactful and meaningful message, which highschool dropout illiterates like you can never understand. Mind it.
my most favourite movie of some director’s in the list are-
1. Sooraj barjatya – Maine pyar kiya (most favourite)
2. Kabir Khan – Bajrangi bhaijaan (second most favourite)
3.Sanjay l b. – Ram leela (hddcs was his best work)
4. Rajkumar hirani – Lage raho munnabhai. (3 idiot was also good)
5. farhan akhtar – dil chahta hai
6. Aaditya chopra- Rab ne bana di jodi (favourite)
7. yash chopra- darr
8. Prabhu deva – Wanted/ Rowdy rathore
9. Maniratnam – Bombay (favourite movie)
10. rakesh mehra – rang de basanti (favourite)
11. Aashutosh – Lagaan
12. karan johar- kkhh
13. Anand l rai – Raanjhnaa
14. Anurag kashyap- Kites
15. Rakesh roshan- knph
16. Mohit suri – murder 2
17. Sanjay gupta- Kaante
18. Anees bazmi – Ready
19. Abbas mustan – Race
20. Vishal bhardwaj – haider.
@ eric- the director rgv who gave Aamir’s most performence oriented movie Rangeela is worst director for you, great.
but for your kind of info aamir was sure that he will get filmfare for rangeela but unfortunately srk win and just after that he decided he will not attend any indian award function. i agree with him.
as i know after getting award srk said- there is only one khan in industry…. you knows his egostic atitude aamir hurt after date. srk reply to saif when he ask about what he like in dil chata hai- hairstyle. srk always degrading other actor’s in bollywood thats why now he is nowhere near other 2 khans of bollywood.
legend aamir khan leave srk do you really think that mithun is worst actor……he got national award for best actor in his debut movie mrigya…………….
Where is our Directors from Bhatt camp (Mahesh Bhatt, Vikram Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt & Pooja Bhatt)….
In Top 5 There are two Bengali Directors…. :-)
Excellent article, team Indicine. Really puts things into perspective for the audience along with shedding light on the difference between Directors who solely make it big at the BO as opposed to those who garner both BO as well as universal appreciation.
I’d like to point out though that the list is missing one of India’s premiere Directors, Rajkumar Santoshi.
Hey is that mahesh manjrekar movie. Mentioned likely VASTAV, VIRUDHHA,..family comes true and CITY OF GOLD.
Where is showman Subhash Ghai. Is he out of the top 40 in his lifetime? And Salman’s right hand Sohail Khan, the director is nowhere to be seen. Neither is Shahrukh’s one time partner Aziz Mirza. What about the Dhoom and Dhoom 2 director Sanjay Gadhvi? And the expensive Rajkumar Santoshi who ditched Sunny Deol? Where is Gadar’s director Anil Sharma?
neeraj pandey, farhan akhtar, raju hirani, yashji, and zoya akhtar are the best directors in bollywood.
I think ABBAS MUSTAN AND YASH CHOPRA is good director bcoz they changed actor carier…. Like bazaar,darr
Can’t for the world figure out why RGV is amongst the bottom …Yes he has spiralled downwards in the past few years but remember the iconic movies he gave Indian cinema – Siva ,Raat,Rangeela,Satya ,Kaun ,Company ,Sarkaar ….More than anyone else he deserves to be amongst the top five .