Kabir Khan (director)
{{short description|Indian filmmaker}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kabir Khan
| image = Kabir Khan at IFFI 2022.jpg
| caption = Khan in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|09|14}}
| birth_place = Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh,(now in Telangana), India{{cite news|title=Kabir Khan: Salman has no complexity and no complex|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Kabir-Khan-Salman-has-no-complexity-and-no-complex/articleshow/48084667.cms|date=16 July 2015|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=6 April 2017}}
| alma_mater = Kirori Mal College, Delhi University
Jamia Millia Islamia
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer}}
| spouse = Mini Mathur
| children = 2
| parents = Rasheeduddin Khan
| relatives = Vijay 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) and Tariq (2025). was released on 14 June 2024 opening to positive reviews. This was his second sports biopic after 83.
He is the board member of Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image.{{cite web |title=Mumbai Academy of Moving Image - Trustees Site |url=https://www.mumbaifilmfestival.com/festival/trustees |website=www.mumbaifilmfestival.com}}
Early life and background
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.{{Cite web |title=MFF 17, by Jio-MAMI, Festival Diary, III {{!}} Filmfestivals.com |url=https://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/siraj_syed/mff_17_by_jio_mami_festival_diary_iii?page=3 |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=filmfestivals.com}}
Khan studied at Kirori Mal College of Delhi University, as well as Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi.{{Cite web |url=http://www.famographywiki.co.in/2015/07/kabir-khan-bollywood-director-wiki.html |title=Kabir Khan filmography |access-date=28 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828172457/http://www.famographywiki.co.in/2015/07/kabir-khan-bollywood-director-wiki.html |archive-date=28 August 2015 |url-status=dead }} He is married to television host & actress Mini Mathur, with whom he has 2 children,{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/How-did-Kabir-Khan-marry-Mini-Mathur/articleshow/4742901.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811035912/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-06/news-interviews/28187110_1_passport-office-kabir-khan-reality-show|url-status=live|archive-date=11 August 2011|work=The Times of India|title=How did Kabir Khan marry Mini Mathur? |access-date=29 July 2016}} Vivaan and Sairah.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090712212534/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=c6209277-a464-4b09-80db-96faf40e36c3&Headline=Post+EMNew+York%2FEM+Kabir+Khan+busy+babysitting+ Post New York Kabir Khan busy babysitting] Hindustan Times, 7 July 2009
In initial days, he worked with prominent journalist Saeed Naqvi.{{Cite web|title='I've not met a more charismatic man than Mandela'|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/ive-not-met-a-more-charismatic-man-than-mandela/20131206.htm|access-date=2021-09-11|website=Rediff|language=en|quote=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}} 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.{{Cite web |title='Ek Tha Tiger is my most political film' |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/7-days/ek-tha-tiger-is-my-most-political-film/cid/386921 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}
Film career
= Initial work and directorial breakthrough (1996-2012) =
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.{{cite web|title=Kabul Express is based on my experiences|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/jul/03kabul.htm|work=Rediff.com|access-date=6 August 2014|date=3 July 2006}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Kabul Express - Movie - Box Office India |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=365 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.boxofficeindia.com}} It, however, earned Khan the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director. He then worked on the movie New York, which was successful.
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.{{Cite web |title=Ek Tha Tiger - Movie - Box Office India |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=887 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}
= Film production and screenwriting (2015-present) =
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, as well as the highest-grossing Indian film at the time, 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.{{cite press release|title=63rd National Film Awards|url=http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/Winners_of_63rd_NFA_2015.pdf|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|date=28 March 2016|access-date=28 March 2016}}{{cite web|title=Salman and Kareena come together for Bajrangi Bhaijaan|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/salman-and-kareena-come-together-for-bajrangi-bhaijaan/|work=The Indian Express|access-date=6 August 2014|date=18 July 2014}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Harneet |title='Bajrangi Bhaijaan' director Kabir Khan: I needed Salman Khan's superstardom to discuss the Hindu-Muslim issue |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/salman-khan-bajrangi-bhaijaan-director-kabir-khan-hanuman-doesnt-belong-to-only-one-community/#:~:text=Why%20can%E2%80%99t%20a%20Muslim%20say%20Jai%20Shri%20Ram%3F%20Or%20why%20can%E2%80%99t%20a%20Hindu%20say%20Assalamualaikum |access-date=2 April 2023 |work=The Indian Express |date=24 July 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Ovial |first1=Devyani |title=Explained: From assertive 'Jai Shri Ram', a reason to move to gentler 'Jai Siya Ram' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/from-assertive-jai-shri-ram-a-reason-to-move-to-gentler-jai-siya-ram-6541467/#:~:text=he%20grew%20up%20hearing%20both%20%E2%80%9CJai%20Siya%20Ram%E2%80%9D%20and%20%E2%80%9CJai%20Shri%20Ram%E2%80%9D |access-date=2 April 2023 |work=The Indian Express |date=6 August 2020 |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Phantom - Movie - Box Office India |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2979 |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Tubelight - Movie - Box Office India |url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3550 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}
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.{{cite news |title=83 Movie Review: FIVE reasons why you should not miss Kabir Khan's sports drama starring Ranveer Singh |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/83-five-reasons-why-you-should-not-miss-kabir-khans-sports-drama-starring-ranveer-singh/photostory/88444588.cms |access-date=9 January 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=23 December 2021 |language=en |archive-date=25 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225152519/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/83-five-reasons-why-you-should-not-miss-kabir-khans-sports-drama-starring-ranveer-singh/photostory/88444588.cms |url-status=live }} Made on a budget of {{INR|270 crore}}, the film only managed a worldwide gross collection of {{INR|190.86}} crore and was deemed a box-office bomb.{{cite web|author=Subhash K Jha|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bollywood/why-83-underperformed-at-the-box-office-more-docudrama-than-masala-high-ticket-prices-no-youth-connect-third-wave-10255671.html|title=Why 83 underperformed at the box office: More docudrama than masala, high ticket prices, no youth connect, third wave|work=Firstpost|date=4 January 2022}}
His next film was the Kartik Aaryan starrer sports biopic Chandu Champion which released on 14 June 2024.{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2023-07-04 |title=Kartik Aaryan-Kabir Khan's film titled 'Chandu Champion', to release in June 2024 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kartik-aaryan-kabir-khans-film-titled-chandu-champion-to-release-in-june-2024/article67041193.ece |access-date=2023-11-08 |issn=0971-751X}} 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. The received positive reviews and emerged as a modest success at the box office{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Chandu Champion Box Office|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/chandu-champion/box-office/|work=Bollywood Hungama|date=23 June 2024|language=en|access-date=18 July 2024}}{{Cite news|last=Soni|first=Narendra|date=14 June 2024|url=https://ndtv.in/bollywood/chandu-champion-budget-kartik-aryan-fees-for-chandu-champion-how-much-collection-will-make-chandu-champion-blockbuster-5879684|title=जानें कितना है चंदू चैंपियन का बजट, कितनी ली कार्तिक आर्यन ने फीस और ब्लॉकबस्टर बनने के लिए फिल्म को कमाने होंगे कितने करोड़|trans-title=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|work=NDTV|language=hi|access-date=18 June 2024|archive-date=18 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618133606/https://ndtv.in/bollywood/chandu-champion-budget-kartik-aryan-fees-for-chandu-champion-how-much-collection-will-make-chandu-champion-blockbuster-5879684|url-status=live}}
He is also set to direct The Zookeeper, a Sino-Indian production.{{cite news |date=23 May 2018 |title=Eros International Announces Indian Subsidiary Results |work=Business Wire |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180523006076/en/Eros-International-Announces-Indian-Subsidiary-Results}}{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=2019-05-20 |title=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 |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/contrary-reports-chinese-media-kabir-khans-indo-china-film-zookeeper-wont-release-january-2020/ |access-date=2019-09-13 |website=Bollywood Hungama |language=en}} It is a travel-related drama film which is being shot in the Chinese city of Chengdu its the surrounding regions.{{cite news |date=23 May 2017 |title=After Tubelight, Kabir Khan to shoot his next film Zookeeper in China |work=The Indian Express |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/after-tubelight-kabir-khan-to-shoot-his-next-film-zookeeper-in-china-4669711/}}{{cite news |last=Wang |first=Yue |date=5 February 2018 |title=Chinese Moviegoers Are Developing Diversified Tastes, Which Doesn't Bode Well For Hollywood |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2018/02/05/chinese-moviegoers-are-developing-diversified-tastes-which-doesnt-bode-well-for-hollywood/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206063454/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2018/02/05/chinese-moviegoers-are-developing-diversified-tastes-which-doesnt-bode-well-for-hollywood/ |archive-date=6 February 2018}} The film has an estimated budget of {{US$|25 million|long=no}} ({{INR|{{#expr:(25/10)*(100/{{To USD|100|IND}}) round 0}} crore}}), and it will star a leading Indian actor and a leading Chinese actress.{{cite news |date=15 July 2016 |title=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 |work=Business Wire |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160715005358/en/Eros-International%E2%80%99s-Trinity-Pictures-Announces-Indo-Chinese-Co-Productions}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; text-align: center;" | ||||||
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Work ! colspan="3" | Credited as ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Notes ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Producers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=65 | Director
! width=65 | Producer ! width=65 | 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 | Rowspan="3" | Yash Raj Films |
| 2009 | New York | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | ||
| 2012 | Ek Tha Tiger | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | First Installment in the YRF Spy Universe | |
| rowspan="2" |2015 | Bajrangi Bhaijaan | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Director | Eros International | |
| Phantom | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} | Sajid Nadiadwala Siddharth Roy Kapur | ||
| 2017 | Tubelight | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Salman Khan Films Kabir Khan | |
| 2020 | {{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 |
| rowspan="2"|2024 | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Kabir Khan Sajid Nadiadwala | ||
| My Melbourne | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | Antholgy film "Emma" Segment | ||
| 2025 | Tariq | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | | |
= Frequent collaborations =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| style="vertical-align:bottom;"
| Artists | Kabul Express | New York | Ek Tha Tiger | Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Phantom | Tubelight | 83 | Chandu Champion | Tariq | |
| Salman Khan
| | | {{Ya}}
|{{Ya}} | | {{Ya}} | | | |
| Katrina Kaif
| |{{Ya}} |{{Ya}} | |{{Ya}} | | | |{{Ya}} | |
| John Abraham
| {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} | | | | | | | {{Ya}} | |
| Roshan Seth
| {{Ya}} | | {{Ya}} | | | | | | | |
| Nawazuddin Siddiqui
| | {{Ya}} | | {{Ya}} | | | | | | |
| Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub
| | | | | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} | | | | |
| Om Puri
| | | | {{Ya}} | | {{Ya}} | | | | |
| Pritam
| |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | |
| Julius Packiam
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | |
| KK
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan}}
- {{IMDb name|id=1203138|name=Kabir Khan}}
{{Kabir Khan}}
{{ScreenAwardBestDirector}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Kabir}}
Category:Hindi-language film directors
Category:Indian male screenwriters
Category:Indian documentary filmmakers
Category:Indian people of Pashtun descent
Category:Kirori Mal College alumni
Category:Delhi University alumni
Category:Film directors from Hyderabad, India
Category:Discovery Channel people
Category:21st-century Indian people
Category:Film producers from Hyderabad, India
Category:Director whose film won the Best Debut Feature Film National Film Award