Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Biography
Sanjay Leela Bhansali (born February 24, 1963) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and music director known for his female-led films with a distinctive style of grand cinematic sets and extravagant costumes, incorporation of classical music and inspirations from dramatic epics. One of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers of Hindi cinema, Bhansali is the recipient of several awards, including four National Film Awards and ten Filmfare Awards. In 2015, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award. He made his directorial debut with Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) for which he received Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film. He rose to prominence in Indian cinema with commercially successful and widely acclaimed romantic drama Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), the romantic drama Devdas (2002) —which received nomination for Best Foreign Film at British Academy of Film & Television Awards (BAFTA)— and the drama Black (2005), for all of which he received multiple Best Director Award and Best Film Award along with additional Critics Award for Best Film for the latter at Filmfare Awards, and multiple National Film Awards for the latter two. However, he followed it by directing consecutive commercially flop films Saawariya (2007) and Guzaarish (2010). He is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India. He is the founder of a production house, Bhansali Productions. Bhansali has adopted the middle name "Leela" as a tribute to his mother, Leela Bhansali.
Known For & Full Filmography4 Titles
Drama Series - 2004, 16 episodes • as Self
Koffee with Karan is an Indian talk show hosted by filmmaker and television personality Karan Johar and produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, the digital content division of Johar's production company Dharma Productions
Drama Series - 2025, 16 episodes • as Self
This documentary series chronicles the trials and triumphs of Bollywood's iconic Roshan family — musician Roshan Lal Nagrath, Rajesh, Rakesh and Hrithik.
Drama Series - 2006, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is a television reality show and the Indian version of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Movie - 2007, 2h 15m • as Self
While Northern India’s 100-year-old film industry is best known for flamboyant dance sequences and romantic plot lines, its directors have begun to step outside established formulas and explore grittier subject matter. This program surveys the world of Bollywood filmmaking, examining the personalities as well as the commercial and thematic concerns that drive central Asia’s answer to Tinseltown. Interviews with directors Karan Johar, Ashutosh Gowariker, and Yash Chopra are included, along with commentary from choreographers, musical directors, and Cinemaya Magazine editor Aruna Vasudev. The industry’s newfound attention to poverty, homelessness, and other social concerns is examined. Several film excerpts are included.