Overview
Anees Bazmee is an Indian film director, screenwriter and lyricist who works primarily in Hindi cinema. He is best known for directing comedy films, particularly the No Entry (2005) and Welcome (2007) franchises, and the horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022). Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has been associated with mainstream Bollywood entertainers, often featuring ensemble casts and slapstick humour.
Key Facts
| Full name | Anees Bazmee |
|---|---|
| Born | Modasa, Gujarat, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, lyricist |
| Industry | Hindi cinema (Bollywood) |
| Notable works | No Entry, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng, Ready, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 |
| Genre | Comedy, romance, horror-comedy |
Background
Anees Bazmee was born in Modasa, a town in Gujarat, and was raised in a family with literary leanings; his father, Abdul Hameed Bazmee, was an Urdu poet. He moved to Mumbai at a young age to pursue a career in films and began his journey by working in supporting capacities in the industry.
Career
Early work as writer
Bazmee started in the Hindi film industry as an assistant and dialogue writer. He worked under filmmaker Raj Kapoor and assisted on projects in the 1980s. He gained recognition as a screenwriter on action and comedy films, contributing dialogues and screenplays for productions starring leading stars of the era. His writing credits include films such as Swarg (1990), Pardesi Babu (1998) and several scripts for director David Dhawan.
Directorial debut and 1990s
Bazmee made his directorial debut with Hulchul (1995), starring Vinod Khanna and Ajay Devgn. He followed it with Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), a romantic comedy featuring Ajay Devgn and Kajol, which became commercially successful. Deewangee (2002), a courtroom thriller with Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna and Urmila Matondkar, marked a departure from his usual genre.
Comedy successes (2005–2011)
The mid-2000s established Bazmee as a leading director of mainstream comedy. No Entry (2005), starring Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan, became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of that year. He followed it with Welcome (2007), an ensemble comedy with Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Katrina Kaif, which spawned a successful franchise.
Singh Is Kinng (2008), starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, and Ready (2011) with Salman Khan and Asin, continued his commercial run. Thank You (2011), with Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Irrfan Khan, was also part of this period.
Later work
After It's Entertainment (2014) and Welcome Back (2015), Bazmee returned to prominence with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), a horror-comedy starring Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu, which emerged as a major box-office success in the post-pandemic Hindi film market. He subsequently directed Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024), continuing the franchise.
Timeline of Selected Films as Director
- 1995 – Hulchul
- 1998 – Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha
- 2002 – Deewangee
- 2005 – No Entry
- 2007 – Welcome
- 2008 – Singh Is Kinng
- 2011 – Ready; Thank You
- 2014 – It's Entertainment
- 2015 – Welcome Back
- 2017 – Mubarakan
- 2018 – Pataakha (writer)
- 2022 – Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
- 2024 – Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
Style and Significance
Bazmee's films are typically large-scale ensemble comedies that combine slapstick humour, situational misunderstandings and song-and-dance set pieces. He is regarded as one of the more bankable directors of mainstream commercial comedy in Hindi cinema, with several of his films achieving high theatrical returns. His scripts often feature interlinked storylines, mistaken identities and comic confrontations between multiple lead characters.