15 Bollywood directors missing from 'Action'

Shaad Ali who made a comeback to direction with Kill Dill seven years after Jhoom Barabar Jhoom failed to shine. He was the man behind the acclaimed hit Saathiya and the comedy Bunty Aur Babli. Like him there are several directors who in the past have churned out blockbusters and/or critically-acclaimed films. There have been a few who have also given consecutive hits, and yet these directors are missing in action today. Have they been one-hit wonders, or haven't they been able to adapt to the present times. After Hrs digs out directors who have vanished from the scene.

Abhinay Deo
Last film: Game (2011)

His 2011 directorial debut Delhi Belly was hailed as a path-breaker for its explicit sexual content and racy language. The adult comedy won critical acclaim and was a super hit. From ad films Abhinay had made a successful transition to films and looked promising. All eyes were on his next film, the stylishly shot Game which released in the same year, but turned out to be a dud. It is three years since his two films released and there's no news on Abhinay's next outing. In the meantime he directed Anil Kapoor's TV series 24 and is readying for the next season. Hope he is still game to return to movies!

JP Dutta
Last film: Umrao Jaan (2006)

It's been eight years since he directed the remake of Umrao Jaan and JP Dutta is yet to recover from the colossal flop. Last year, he announced sequels to his blockbuster 1997 film Border - Border 2, 3 and 4! The films will reportedly be based on three Paramvir Chakra winning war heroes! Meanwhile, the director known for his patriotic films has launched his daughter Nidhi in a yet-to-be-titled film. But he is only producing the film and not directing it. Wonder when the Border sequels will find their way to the theatres.

Tarun Manshukhani
Last film: Dostana (2008)

It was with Dostana that Tarun who till then was assisting Karan Johar, got his break as a director. The film starring Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra gave a fresh lease of life to the trio and Tarun catapulted into the big league. Cashing in on the success of the film, a sequel was also announced. That was in 2008! Since then Tarun wrote and rewrote the draft of the sequel but none to the satisfaction of his mentor Karan and finally it was shelved. He then got on board to direct the remake of Priceless, but even that didn't work out. In between he co-directed the animation film Kootchie Kootchie Hota Hai but that hasn't seen the light of the day. It remains to be seen when the one-hit wonder will make a comeback.

Aditya Chopra
Last film: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)

His directorial debut Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge is still running in a Mumbai theatre 20 years since it released! Ironically, it's been six years since the YRF scion directed a movie. His last film as director was Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi that launched Anushka Sharma opposite his favourite Shah Rukh Khan. Though Adi, as he is popularly known, has produced several blockbusters: Dhoom 3, Ek Tha Tiger, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, he is yet to wield the megaphone himself. In fact, in his two decade career he has directed only three films. There is speculation of him finally getting behind the camera for a film with SRK and Katrina Kaif. So far, all his directorial ventures have starred the king of romance, so won't be surprising if his next with with Khan will also be a love story. But when, is the question?

Tanuja Chandra
Last film: Hope And A Little Sugar (2006)

Known for her hard-hitting films with strong women characters, Tanuja has films like Dushman and Sanghursh to her credit. However, after Sur - A Melody Of Life, Filmstar and Zindaggi Rocks, which did not find any favour with the audience, the director hasn't been able to find her way back. Her last film Hope And A Little Sugar was in 2006. Since then, there have been announcements - she was to direct Rajeev Khandelwal in Woh Pyaar Hi Tha, then there was news of her roping in Sharman Joshi as the lead in another film, but neither has materialised. Looks like Tanuja herself is in need of hope and a little sugar!

Siddharth Malhotra
Last film: We Are Family (2010)

None other than Karan Johar gave him a chance to direct a film We Are Family. It was a big break for Siddharth who hitherto was making TV serials. However, the remake of Stepmom despite the presence of biggies like Kajol and Kareena Kapoor failed to garner a good response. And Siddharth went back to television. It's been four years since his debut film but Siddharth seems to be content with TV with no inclination to make another film. A case of once bitten twice shy?

Ken Ghosh
Last film: Chance Pe Dance (2010)

He is best remembered for Ishq Vishq that launched Shahid Kapoor in the industry. The campus romcom was also Ken's debut directorial venture. However, after that 2003 film, Ken hasn't had any luck at the box-office. His subsequent outings Fida and Chance Pe Dance, both starring Shahid bit the dust. Four years after Chance Pe Dance, Ken talked about making a sequel to his hit film Ishq Vishq with newcomers and is reportedly working on the script. He has also announced another youthful film Idiot Nalayak Useless. We'll have to wait and watch which comes out first... or whether it does at all?

Rahul Rawail
Last film: Buddha Mar Gaya (2007)

He is the man who launched some good actors like Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh (Betaab) Kajol (Bekhudi) and Aishwarya Rai (Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya). He's had a mixed journey as a filmmaker - blockbusters like Betaab, Arjun and flops like Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. His last film- a raunchy comedy Buddha Mar Gaya sank without a trace. That was in 2007. Last year, the veteran director announced another Love Story starring newcomers. It will be interesting to see if the contemporary love story recreates the magic of the earlier Love Story (Kumar Gaurav-Vijeta Pandit) with which Rahul was associated, and launches two more fresh faces in a big way.

Anubhav Sinha
Last film: RA.One (2011)

Despite his last film, Ra.One, garnering `100 crores, Anubhav has been missing in action. He did produce Gulab Gang, but is yet to wield the megaphone. Last heard, he was ready with three scripts of which one is a love story, another is a political film and the third is a thriller. There was also talk of him teaming up with Shah Rukh Khan again to make a sequel to superhero film RA.One. Looks like Anubhav is finding it difficult to zero in on the subject. Just hope the director doesn't take too long or he will miss the bus!

John Matthew Matthan
Last film: A New Love Ishtory (Directly released on TV 2013) Shikhar (2005)

He burst onto the scene with the Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh, arguably one of the finest cop movies in Hindi cinema. Hailed as a director with a lot of potential, his next was eagerly awaited. But Shikhar with Shahid Kapoor and Ajay Devgn crashed and it took a long time for the director to recover from the flop. He emerged last year to direct Himesh Reshammiya in A New Love Ishtory, but fortunately or unfortunately it did not release in theatres and was said to have directly aired on TV. Honestly, the Sarfarosh director should go back to what he is best at: another hard-hitting drama.

Dharmesh Dharshan
Last film: Aap Ki Khatir (2006)

He is responsible of the makeovers of some top stars - Karishma Kapoor got into the big league with Raja Hindustani and Akshay Kumar was heralded as the new romantic hero with Dhadkan. But Dharmesh's last film Aap Ki Khatir starring Priyanka Chopra and Akshaye Khanna received a lukewarm response and the director went underground. He was to direct the sequel to his superhit film Dhadkan, but last heard Vikram Bhatt was doing the honours. Wonder where does that leave Dharmesh?

Gulzar
Last film: Hu Tu Tu (1999)

Lyricist, writer-director, filmmaker - Gulzar is known for his sensitivity in dealing with the man-woman relationship, mature dramas and subtle sense of humour - Khushboo, Koshish, Aandhi, Mausam, Ijaazat, to name a few. The last film he directed was Hu Tu Tu way back in 1999. The film failed at the box-office and the veteran filmmaker hung up his directorial boots, though he has been active as a song and story writer. We wish this prolific writer directs a contemporary film reflecting his gentle sensibilities and thoughts, much-needed for today's fast-paced generation.

Amol Palekar
Last film: Dumkata (2007)

Known as the common man's hero Amol Palekar shined in the seventies and the eighties as an actor and later carved a place as a director of sensitive literature-based movies. Best remembered for the poetic Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaaye, the critically acclaimed Daayra and the fantasy film Paheli starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, Amol's last outing in Hindi was Dumkata that did not fare well at the box office. The director since then has shifted to regional films and is currently pursuing his other creativity in another form – painting. With Bollywood digging into old Hindi films and literature it would be apt for Amol, who is rooted in both to make a comeback to Hindi cinema. What say?

Shimit Amin
Last film: Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year (2009)

Ab Tak Chappan, Chak De! India, Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year - three different genres, all critically acclaimed and except for the last film, all declared hits. Shimit, the writer-director behind the films, however, seems to have taken a long break from direction. The reclusive director is said to have taken a backseat as his wife Megha Ramaswamy is helming a film. He, however, edited Mira Nair's The Reluctant Fundamentalist and was a consultant on Shuddh Desi Romance. We certainly think it's time the low-profile Shimit returns to direction and gives us another gripping film.

Aziz Mirza
Last film: Kismat Konnection (2008)

His films are about the common man, light-hearted, entertaining and subtly convey a message. Be it Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Yes Boss or Chalte Chalte the films dealt with the aspirations and ambitions of the middle-class and their eternal struggle with the conscience - all in the backdrop of a love story. Kismat Konnection was no different but the Shahid Kapoor-Vidya Balan starrer failed to excite the audience. Since then, the veteran director has gone into hibernation. Hope he comes back with another simple and meaningful film that strikes a chord with the urban yuppies.