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In movie making, the people behind the camera are equally important like people in front of the camera. I am talking about the directors. They are the ones who decide who would do what in front of the camera. No matter how good the actor is, if the director can not direct him and brings out the best in him then the movie will be a failure. Today, I am going to introduce you to some of the top directors of Generation-X Bollywood. They are young but they are talented and they have proven their worth. Here we start-

Karan Johar:
You might have seen him playing a cameo role as one of Shah Rukh Khan’s friends in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), the block buster film of Aditya Chopra. Three years later, he came up with his first movie, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Something Something Happens). The rest of the story is known to you all. Karan Johar is one of those figures whose works have played a crucial role in shaping the present day Bollywood film industry.  From Kuch Kuch Hota hai to Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, all his movies have a major impact over the Indian audience. What is so special about Karan Johar’s movies? First of all, his movies are based on urban life and urban people. Expensive sets, trendy out fits, emotional scenes and Indian family values are some of the major elements of his movies. Karan has a strange resemblance with Ekta Kapoor, India’s “Soap Opera Queen.” All of Karan’s movies and Ekta’s serial titles start with “K.” In addition, Shah Rukh Khan acted in all of his movies and in all his movies Kajol is either central character or supporting character or special appearance because Karan believes that Kajol is his lucky charm.    

Farhan Akhtar:
He is the son of famous lyricist, poet and script writer Javed Akhter. His mother, Javed Akhter’s ex-wife, Honey Irani, is also a famous script writer. Although three movies old, Farhan Akhtar has shown great potentials to be one of the best Bollywood directors. His first movie, Dil Chahta Hai was one of the top movies of 2001. Based on three friends: Akash (Aamir Khan), Sameer (Saif Ali Khan), and Siddharth (Akshaye Khanna), Dil Chahta Hai explores the love lives of the three friends and how they continue their relationship. Dil Chahta Hai was a commercial success and got good reviews from the critics. In 2002, Dil Chahta Hai was nominated in thirteen categories for Film Fare Award and it won in six categories. After Dil Chahta Hai Farhan directed another movie, Lakshya, which was not very successful but it got good reviews from the critics. Last year, he directed Don - The Chase Begins Again. This is a remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s hit movie Don. Shah Rukh Khan played the central character and it was one of the most successful films of 2006.     

Aditya Chopra:
He is the eldest son of famous Hindi movie director Yash Raj Chopra. Aditya started out as assistant director in his father’s movies- Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991) and Darr (1993). In 1995, at the age of 23, he directed his first movie, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. You all know the rest of the story. DDLJ is still one of the highest grossing Hindi films in the history of Indian film Industry. In the Maratha Mandir theatre of Mumbai, the film has been shown for 600 weeks. It is the longest running film after Sholay.  Karan Johar, a close of friend of Aditya, also helped him in writing the script of DDLJ. As a director, Aditya has two movies under his belt: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Mohabbatein (2000) and both of these movies are very successful. Like Karan Johar, in all the movies directed by Aditya Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan played a major character.    

Sanjay Leela Bhansali:
His first movie, Khamoshi: The Musical is about the struggle between a daughter and her mute and dumb parents. The movie was not commercially successful but it was praised by the critics. In 1996, Khamoshi:The Musical won Film Fare Awards in three categories. In 1999, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam established Sanjay as one of the top directors in Bollywood. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was followed by Devdas in 2002. Based on the novel of renowned Bengali writer, Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay, Devdas was one of the top grossing films of 2002 and one of the most expensive movies of Bollywood. It was also screened in the famous Cannes Film Festival though it did not get any awards. In 2005, Sanjay gave another milestone movie titled Black. Based on the life of a girl who is deaf and dumb since birth, Black was included in Time Magazine’s top movie list of 2005. What is so special about Sanjay Leela Bansali films? He makes movies to which people can relate themselves and their lives. The characters of Sanjay’s movies are just like other typical commercial Hindi film characters; still, people like them and adore them. You will never get bored watching Sanjay’s movies again and again. He is the director who can depict human life in various shapes and colors on the big screen. 

Kunal Kohli:
I first saw this fair complexion, slim figured fellow in “Chalo Cinema” and I liked him instantly. Kunal Kohli was a great TV show host in every way. He also hosted another popular TV show; “Philips Top Ten.” Kunal also made some popular music videos - 'Mera Long Gawacha', 'Chui Mui See Tum Lagti Ho.’ As a director, Kunal was very lucky because he got his first big break under the banner of Yash Raj Films Limited, one of the largest and most renowned production houses in India. His first movie, Mujhse Dosti Karoge? was an NRI love story. The movie did not do well in India but it did very good business in abroad. In 2004, his second movie Hum Tum was released. Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee played the lead roles in this romantic comedy. The movie was a super hit. Hum Tum was well received by the audience and critics. In 2006, Faana was released pairing up Kajol and Amir Khan for the first time. Faana was the fourth most successful movie of 2006.