Indra Kumar is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who works primarily in Hindi cinema. He is known for directing commercially successful family dramas in the early 1990s and a series of comedy films from the mid-2000s onwards, most notably the Masti and Dhamaal franchises.
| Born | Indra Kumar Khaitan |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Film director, producer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Industry | Hindi cinema (Bollywood) |
| Production banner | Maruti International (co-founded with Ashok Thakeria) |
| Notable franchises | Masti, Dhamaal |
Background
Indra Kumar belongs to a family with long-standing ties to Hindi cinema. His sister, Aruna Irani, is a veteran character actress who has appeared in several hundred Hindi films. Before turning director, Indra Kumar worked as an assistant in the film industry and partnered with producer Ashok Thakeria, with whom he established the production house Maruti International.
Career
Family dramas (1990s)
Indra Kumar made his directorial debut with Dil (1990), starring Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit, which became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of that year. He followed it with Beta (1992), again featuring Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, which was also a major commercial success. His other 1990s films include Raja (1995), with Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Kapoor, and Ishq (1997), a multi-starrer with Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Juhi Chawla.
Later work and comedies (2000s onwards)
After films such as Mann (1999) and Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), Indra Kumar shifted increasingly towards adult comedy and ensemble comedy. He directed Masti (2004), a comedy starring Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani and Riteish Deshmukh, which spawned the sequels Grand Masti (2013) and Great Grand Masti (2016). He also launched the Dhamaal series with Dhamaal (2007), Double Dhamaal (2011) and Total Dhamaal (2019), the last featuring an ensemble cast including Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit.
Other directorial credits include Pyaare Mohan (2006) and Super Nani (2014). As a producer through Maruti International, he has been involved in films directed by him as well as projects helmed by other filmmakers.
Selected filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Dil | Director |
| 1992 | Beta | Director |
| 1995 | Raja | Director |
| 1997 | Ishq | Director |
| 1999 | Mann | Director |
| 2001 | Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya | Director |
| 2004 | Masti | Director |
| 2006 | Pyaare Mohan | Director |
| 2007 | Dhamaal | Director |
| 2011 | Double Dhamaal | Director |
| 2013 | Grand Masti | Director |
| 2014 | Super Nani | Director |
| 2016 | Great Grand Masti | Director |
| 2019 | Total Dhamaal | Director |
Significance
Indra Kumar is associated with two distinct phases of mainstream Hindi cinema. In the early 1990s, his films contributed to the popularity of melodramatic family entertainers built around romance, family conflict and music. From the mid-2000s, he became one of the more consistent directors of broad-appeal slapstick comedies, with the Masti and Dhamaal series performing well at the box office and developing into recognised franchises within Hindi cinema.
Personal life
Indra Kumar is the brother of actress Aruna Irani. His son, Aayush Kumar, has also worked in Hindi films.