Neeraj Pandey

{{Infobox person

| name = Neeraj Pandey

| image = Neeraj_Pandey_IIT_Mumbai.jpg

| caption = Pandey in 2020

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|12|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Howrah, West Bengal, India

| occupation = {{hlist|Director|writer|producer}}

| years active = 2008-present

| notable_works = {{flatlist|

}}

Neeraj Pandey (born 17 December 1973) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who works in Hindi cinema. Pandey made his directoral debut in A Wednesday!, which was largely praised by critics and which later became a recipient of many accolades.{{cite news |title=7 Neeraj Pandey movies and web series on Netflix, Disney+Hotstar and YouTube that you can watch today |url=https://www.gqindia.com/binge-watch/collection/7-neeraj-pandey-movies-web-series-on-netflix-disneyhotstar-youtube/ |access-date=29 May 2021 |work=GQ India |date=2020-08-25 |ref=In 2008, Neeraj Pandey marked his directorial debut in the Indian film industry with A Wednesday. |language=en-IN}} His second film was Special 26 (2013), which was followed by Baby (2015), both of them received critical acclaim and became commercial success. He served as a producer in Rustom (2016). Pandey returned to directing in 2016 helming the biopic movie M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story based on Indian cricketer M.S.Dhoni which fared well critically and commercially. Besides being a filmmaker, Pandey is also a writer and has written a novel named Ghalib Danger in 2013.{{cite web |title=Neeraj Pandey: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Neeraj-Pandey |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=29 May 2021}}

In 2016, his production house Friday Filmworks entered into a joint venture with Reliance Entertainment and formed Plan C Studios.

He has also directed a Web Short 'Ouch' with Manoj Bajpayee and Pooja Chopra which is nominated for Filmfare Short Film Award 2017. He was the co-producer of the film Toilet- Ek Prem Katha. His next release was Aiyaary which starred Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee and was both critically and commercially unsuccessful, becoming his first failed venture.

In March 2020, Neeraj Pandey presented and directed his first web series Special Ops on Hotstar.{{cite web |title=Want to push the envelope as a storyteller: Neeraj Pandey on his films, 'Special Ops' By Bedika |url=https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-want-to-push-the-envelope-as-a-storyteller-neeraj-pandey-on-his-films-special-ops-by-bedika-148258 |website=Zee Business |access-date=29 May 2021 |date=2021-02-02}}{{cite web |title=Watch the New Trailer for Special Ops, Out Tomorrow on Hotstar |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/entertainment/news/special-ops-trailer-2-neeraj-pandey-hotstar-release-date-india-series-cast-2195484 |website=NDTV Gadgets 360 |date=16 March 2020 |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Special Ops review: Neeraj Pandey's meandering spy thriller lacks the thrill and emotional heft of his earlier work |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/special-ops-review-neeraj-pandeys-meandering-spy-thriller-lacks-the-thrill-and-emotional-heft-of-his-earlier-work-8166151.html |website=Firstpost |access-date=29 May 2021 |date=2020-03-20}} The eight episode series, the first production of Friday Storytellers, the digital arm of Friday Filmworks, was extremely well received by the critics. He is currently working on his next feature film Chanakya.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/tCG8XNkjXic Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200509115341/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCG8XNkjXic Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCG8XNkjXic&feature=youtu.be| title = Bollywood Talkies with Outlook -- Writer, director and producer Neeraj Pandey | website=YouTube| date = 8 May 2020 }}{{cbignore}}

Early life and education

Pandey was born and brought up in Howrah, West Bengal.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131212083807/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-03/news-interviews/36704408_1_neeraj-pandey-direct-train-mumbai Times of India] His father is originally from Arrah, Bihar but worked for Bosch in Calcutta.{{cite news| title=I grew up on Bengali films | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120617/jsp/7days/story_15619645.jsp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630183548/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120617/jsp/7days/story_15619645.jsp | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 June 2012 | work= The Telegraph| date=17 June 2012| access-date=23 October 2016}} He did his schooling from St. Aloysius High School, Howrah (till Class X) and then St. Thomas' High School, Dasnagar, Howrah (Class XI and XII).{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170416/jsp/t2/story_146526.jsp |title=Neeraj Pandey: The untold story |website=www.telegraphindia.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207192420/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170416/jsp/t2/story_146526.jsp |archive-date=2017-12-07}} Pandey moved to New Delhi, where he graduated in English from Sri Aurobindo College, a constituent of University of New Delhi.{{cite web |title=Neeraj Pandey: The untold story |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/neeraj-pandey-the-untold-story/cid/1428524 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}

Career

Pandey started his career working with Delhi-based 'Legacy Entertainment', a company started by the Dalmia Group to make television programs.

In 2000, he moved to Mumbai, where a friend got a grant to produce a documentary, and offered him the project.{{cite news |title='My worst phase is over'|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_my-worst-phase-is-over_1186130 |publisher=DNA |date=27 August 2008 }} {{verify source |date=September 2023 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/757880350 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/755696335 cite #3 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. User:GreenC bot/Job 18}} Soon he started making documentaries and ad films. Thereafter, he formed a production company 'Quarter Inch Productions', along with his colleague Shital Bhatia which specialized in making television programmes, ad films and documentaries. In 2008, Neeraj and Shital Bhatia formed a production house named Friday Filmworks, which was the original producer of his debut film, A Wednesday!. The film's script was inspired by the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings.{{cite news |title=Neeraj Pandey taking it easy after A Wednesday |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Neeraj-Pandey-taking-it-easy-after-A-Wednesday/Article1-340390.aspx |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=25 September 2008 |access-date=28 September 2011 |archive-date=9 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209080521/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Neeraj-Pandey-taking-it-easy-after-A-Wednesday/Article1-340390.aspx |url-status=dead }} {{verify source |date=September 2023 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/757880350 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/755696335 cite #4 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. User:GreenC bot/Job 18}}

In 2011, Pandey produced the film Taryanche Bait.

After directing his first movie in 2008, Neeraj Pandey directed his second movie Special 26 in 2013, starring Akshay Kumar and Kajal Aggrawal. Neeraj is very fluent in Bengali and also produced a Bengali film, The Royal Bengal Tiger in 2014. In the same year he also produced the film Total Siyappa starring Yami Gautam and Ali Zafar. In 2015, he directed the movie Baby starring Akshay Kumar.{{cite web |last1=Kanyal |first1=Jyoti |title=Neeraj Pandey on e-Sahitya AajTak: A Wednesday was result of collective angst against 2006 train blasts |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/neeraj-pandey-on-e-sahitya-aajtak-a-wednesday-was-result-of-collective-angst-against-2006-train-blasts |date=2020-05-24 |website=India Today |access-date=29 May 2021 |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2016, he produced the film Saat Uchakkey which was a comedy film starring Manoj Bajpayee, Kay Kay Menon, Anupam Kher, Vijay Raaz, Anu Kapoor, Jatin Sarna and Aditi Sharma.

In 2016, Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Entertainment announced a joint venture with Pandey and Friday Filmworks to form Plan C studios for production of films. Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom was the first film for the company. It is an equal partnership joint venture between the two.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}{{Cite news |date=2 Feb 2016 |title=Reliance Entertainment partners Friday Filmworks for Plan C Studios |url=https://indiantelevision.com/television/production-house/film-production/reliance-entertainment-partners-friday-filmworks-for-plan-c-studios-160202 |pages=1}}

Pandey has also written his debut novel titled Ghalib Danger which was launched on 6 December 2013. The novel is soon going to be made into a motion picture.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}{{Cite news |date=31 Aug 2018 |title=Neeraj Pandey's book Ghalib Danger launched in Hindi translation |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/books-culture-neeraj-pandey-s-book-ghalib-danger-launched-in-hindi-translation-460733 |work=India TV News |pages=1}}

In 2017, having co-produced Toilet- Ek Prem Katha, a satirical take on the open defecation scenario in India went on to become a critically acclaimed movie.

He has also directed the short film Ouch with Manoj Bajpayee and Pooja Chopra which is nominated for the Filmfare Short Film Award 2017.

His next release was Aiyaary which starred Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee and was both critically and commercially flop emerging as his first failure. This film was written, directed by himself and produced under the banner of Plan C Studios, the film was an action thriller on the Indian borders. Malhotra and Bajpayee played the lead characters Jai Bakshi and Abhay Singh respectively. Naseeruddin Shah reunited with the filmmaker after their first venture, A Wednesday!. The film was based on true incidents, a theme seen in several of his previous films as well.

In March 2020, Neeraj Pandey presented and directed his first web series Special Ops on Disney+ Hotstar. The eight episode series, the first production of Friday Storytellers, the digital arm of Friday Filmworks, was extremely well received by the critics. Neeraj Pandey also directed and produced web series such as 'Special OPS 1.5: The Himmat Story,' 'Khakee: The Bihar Chapter,' , 'The Freelancer' and Khakee:_The_Bengal_Chapter, was release on March 20 2025 under Friday Storytellers. The next major project in development is Special Ops 2, which is scheduled for release soon.

In 2022, Neeraj Pandey co-founded Boot Room Sports Media LLP with his business partners Shital Bhatia and Sudip Tewari. The label has produced Kaun Pravin Tambe? and Bandon Mein Tha Dum!.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

In 2024 he directed Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha.{{Cite news |date=1 May 2024 |title=Ajay Devgn, Tabu's Auron Mein Kahan Dum which released On August 2 2024|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/ajay-devgn-tabus-auron-mein-kahan-dum-tha-gets-new-release-date-to-release-on-july-5-article-109747354 |work=Times Now |pages=1}} This was his first association with Ajay Devgn.

Filmography

= Films =

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" \| Year !scope="col" \| Title !scope="col" \| Director !scope="col" \| Producer !scope="col" \| Writer
2008 \|A Wednesday \|{{Ya}} \|{{Ya}} \|{{Ya}}
2011 \|scope="row"\| Taryanche Bait \| \| {{Ya}} \|
2013 \|scope="row"\| Special 26 \| {{Ya}} \| \| {{Ya}}
rowspan="2"\| 2014 \|scope="row"\| The Royal Bengal Tiger \| \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}}
scope="row"\| Total Siyapaa \| \|{{Ya}} \|{{ya}}
2015 \|scope="row"\| Baby \| {{Ya}} \| \| {{Ya}}
rowspan="3"\| 2016 \|scope="row"\| Rustom \| \| {{Ya}} \|
scope="row"\| M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story \| {{Ya}} \| \| {{Ya}}
scope="row" \| Saat Uchakkey \| \|{{Ya}} \|
rowspan="2"\| 2017 \|scope="row"\| Naam Shabana \| \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}}
scope="row"\| Toilet: Ek Prem Katha \| \| {{Ya}} \|
rowspan="2"\|2018 \|scope="row"\| Aiyaary \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}}
scope="row"\| Missing \| \| {{Ya}} \|
rowspan="2"\|2022 \|scope="row"\| Operation Romeo \| \| {{Ya}} \|
scope="row"\| Vikram Vedha \| \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}}
2023 \|Chengiz \| \| \|{{Ya}}
rowspan="2" \|2024 \|Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha \|{{Ya}} \|{{Ya}} \|{{Ya}}
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar \|{{Ya}} \| \|{{Ya}}

class="wikitable sortable"

scope="col" | Year

!scope="col" | Title

!scope="col" | Director

!scope="col" | Producer

!scope="col" | Writer

2008

|A Wednesday

|{{Ya}}

2011

|scope="row"| Taryanche Bait

| {{Ya}}

2013

|scope="row"| Special 26

| {{Ya}}

rowspan="2"| 2014

|scope="row"| The Royal Bengal Tiger

| {{Ya}}

scope="row"| Total Siyapaa

|{{Ya}}

|{{ya}}

2015

|scope="row"| Baby

| {{Ya}}

rowspan="3"| 2016

|scope="row"| Rustom

| {{Ya}}

scope="row"| M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story

| {{Ya}}

scope="row" | Saat Uchakkey

|{{Ya}}

rowspan="2"| 2017

|scope="row"| Naam Shabana

| {{Ya}}

scope="row"| Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

| {{Ya}}

rowspan="2"|2018

|scope="row"| Aiyaary

| {{Ya}}

scope="row"| Missing

| {{Ya}}

rowspan="2"|2022

|scope="row"| Operation Romeo

| {{Ya}}

scope="row"| Vikram Vedha

| {{Ya}}

2023

|Chengiz

|{{Ya}}

rowspan="2" |2024

|Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

|{{Ya}}

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar

|{{Ya}}

= Series =

class="wikitable"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Creator ! scope="col" \| Director ! scope="col" \| Producer ! scope="col" \| Writer
2020–present \| scope="row" \| Special OPS \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}}
2021 \| scope="row" \| Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story \| {{ya}} \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}} \| {{Ya}}
2022 \|Khakee: The Bihar Chapter \| {{ya}} \| \| \|{{Ya}}
2023 \|The Freelancer \| {{ya}} \| \| \|{{Ya}}
2025 \|Khakee: The Bengal Chapter \|{{ya}} \| \| \|{{Ya}}

class="wikitable"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Creator

! scope="col" | Director

! scope="col" | Producer

! scope="col" | Writer

2020–present

| scope="row" | Special OPS

| {{Ya}}

2021

| scope="row" | Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story

| {{ya}}

| {{Ya}}

2022

|Khakee: The Bihar Chapter

| {{ya}}

|{{Ya}}

2023

|The Freelancer

| {{ya}}

|{{Ya}}

2025

|Khakee: The Bengal Chapter

|{{ya}}

|{{Ya}}

= Documentaries =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Platform

!Creator

!Director

!Producer

!Writer

2021

|Secrets of Sinauli

|Discovery+

|{{Ya}}

rowspan="2" |2022

|Secrets of the Koh-i-noor

|Discovery+

|{{Ya}}

{{no wrap|Bandon Mein Tha Dum!}}

|Jio Cinema

|{{Ya}}

2024

|Secrets of The Buddha Relics

|Discovery+

|{{Ya}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

!Film

!Award Name

!Year

!Status

!Notes

rowspan="5" |A Wednesday!

|National Film Awards - Best First Film of a Director

|2008

|Won

54th Filmfare Awards - Best Director

| rowspan="4" |2009

|Nominated

Star Screen Awards - Best Film, Best Story, Best Director, Most Promising Debut Director

|Won

Star Screen Awards - Best Screenplay, Best Dialogue

|Nominated

IIFA Awards - Best Story. Best Dialogue

|Won

rowspan="2" |Rustom

|Zee Cine Awards - Best Film

| rowspan="2" |2017

|Nominated

Stardust Awards - Best Film of the Year

|Nominated

Special OPS{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/neeraj-pandey-to-helm-spy-thriller-web-series-special-ops-2504913.html|title=Neeraj Pandey to Helm Spy Thriller Web Series 'Special Ops'|website=www.news18.com|date=18 February 2020 }}

|Filmfare OTT Awards - Best Director

|2020

|Nominated

Bibliography

Ghalib Danger (2013)

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2010/jan/r2010012302.pdf|title=56th National Film Awards for 2008|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|page=1|date=23 January 2010|access-date=13 April 2011}}

}}

External links

{{IMDb name|3109770}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080118091922/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/filmography/14781/index.html Neeraj Pandey] at Bollywood Hungama

Category:1973 births

Category:21st-century Indian people

Category:Delhi University alumni

Category:Director whose film won the Best Debut Feature Film National Film Award

Category:Film directors from Bihar

Category:Film directors from Kolkata

Category:Hindi-language film directors

Category:Indian male screenwriters

Category:Living people

Category:People from Bhojpur district, India

Category:Screen Awards winners