R. Balki (born Ramachandra Balakrishnan Iyer) is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and advertising professional. He is known for directing Hindi feature films that often centre on unconventional relationships and social themes, including Cheeni Kum (2007), Paa (2009), Shamitabh (2015), Ki & Ka (2016), Pad Man (2018) and Chup: Revenge of the Artist (2022). Before his film career, he had a long stint in advertising, where he served as the chairman and chief creative officer of Lowe Lintas India.
| Full name | Ramachandra Balakrishnan Iyer (R. Balki) |
|---|---|
| Profession | Film director, screenwriter, advertising professional |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Gauri Shinde (filmmaker) |
| Notable advertising role | Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas India |
| Debut film (director) | Cheeni Kum (2007) |
| Languages of work | Hindi (primarily) |
Balki grew up in a Tamil-speaking family and pursued a career in advertising before transitioning to films. He joined Lintas (later Lowe Lintas), one of India's leading advertising agencies, and rose through the ranks to lead its creative output. He is widely associated with several long-running Indian advertising campaigns and was involved in shaping brand communication for clients across consumer sectors.
Balki's directorial debut starred Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu, and dealt with a romance between a 64-year-old chef and a 34-year-old woman. The film was produced under the Sunil Manchanda–Amitabh Bachchan banner and featured music by Ilaiyaraaja, marking the composer's notable return to mainstream Hindi cinema.
Paa featured Amitabh Bachchan as a 12-year-old boy with progeria and Abhishek Bachchan as his father. The film won National Film Awards, including Best Actor for Amitabh Bachchan and Best Make-up.
Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara Haasan, the film explored the symbiotic relationship between a mute aspiring actor and a man with a powerful voice.
The film starred Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan, and dealt with role reversal in a marriage where the husband chooses to be a homemaker.
Inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, the social entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu who developed a low-cost sanitary pad-making machine, Pad Man starred Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte. Balki wrote and directed the film, which is credited with bringing mainstream attention to menstrual hygiene in India.
A psychological thriller about a serial killer targeting film critics, the film starred Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan and Shreya Dhanwanthary, and paid homage to Guru Dutt.
A sports drama starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher, Ghoomer follows a paraplegic former cricketer who trains a young woman cricketer who has lost her right hand.
Balki has produced and mentored films through his association with Hope Productions, including English Vinglish (2012) and Dear Zindagi (2016), both directed by his wife Gauri Shinde. He has also been associated with notable advertising campaigns, including public-interest campaigns on issues such as tobacco awareness and road safety.
Balki's films are characterised by high-concept premises, often anchored in social or emotional taboos: age-gap romance, progeria, gender role reversal, menstrual stigma, and the relationship between artist and critic. His advertising background is reflected in tightly written scripts, brand-aware visual design, and the frequent use of star-driven storytelling. He has collaborated repeatedly with Amitabh Bachchan, who has appeared in several of his films.
Balki is married to filmmaker Gauri Shinde, known for directing English Vinglish and Dear Zindagi. The couple is based in Mumbai.
Balki is regarded as one of the few mainstream Hindi filmmakers to consistently combine commercial cinema with socially oriented subject matter. His work on Pad Man in particular contributed to broader public discussion in India around menstrual health, while Paa brought attention to progeria. His parallel standing in advertising and cinema places him among a small group of Indian creative directors who have successfully crossed over between the two fields.