Siddharth Anand

Anand's father is Bittu Anand, the producer of the vigilante action film Shahenshah (1988).^[7] His paternal grandfather was senior screenwriter Inder Raj Anand, his uncle is actor-director Tinnu Anand while the director Mukul Anand was a cousin of his father.^[8][9] He is married to Mamta Anand (née Bhatia), with whom he has a son, Ranveer.^[10] Along with his wife, he owns and runs the production company, Marflix Pictures.^{[citation needed]}

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Initial work, debut and breakthrough: 2001-2010

Anand assisted director Kunal Kohli with the romantic comedy Mujhse Dosti Karoge (2002) and was promoted to an associate for Kohli's Hum Tum (2004), for which, as executive producer, he also co-wrote the screenplay.^[11] He made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy-drama Salaam Namaste (2005), produced by Yash Raj Films, which stars Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta in the lead roles. It received positive reviews from critics upon release and emerged as a commercial success.^[12]

Anand's second directorial venture was the sports drama Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), which marked his third collaboration with Saif Ali Khan as well as Rani Mukerji. It receiving mixed reviews from critics and was a moderate success.^[13] His third and fourth directorial venture was the romantic comedies Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) and Anjaana Anjaani (2010), both starred Ranbir Kapoor, film opened to mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and emerged as a commercial success.^[14][15][16]

Later career: 2014-present

In 2014, Anand made his foray into the action genre with Bang Bang!, starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles. A remake of the 2010 American film Knight and Day, it opened to mixed reviews from critics; however, it emerged as a box office success.^[17] It was the year's fourth highest-grossing film and Anand's first film to reach the 100 crore club.^[18] It was followed by the action-thriller War (2019), starring Hrithik Roshan alongside Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor. It received positive reviews and emerged as the highest-grossing film of that year.^[19]

In 2023, Anand directed the action thriller Pathaan (2023), which starred Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, and established the YRF Spy Universe. The film marked Khan's comeback to films following a four-year hiatus.^[20] Pathaan emerged as a commercial success, and entering the 1000 crore club worldwide, emerging as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film domestically of its time.^[21][22] In 2024, Anand launched his production company, Marflix Pictures, where he directed and co-produced the aerial action thriller Fighter, which marked his third collaboration with Roshan and Padukone and first with Anil Kapoor.^[23] Fighter received mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial success. Nevertheless, it was year's fourth highest-grossing film.^[24] In the same year, he also co-produced Jewel Thief, directed by Robbie Grewal, which starred Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat.^[25]

His next directorial and production venture is King, which will star Shah Rukh Khan and his daughter, Suhana Khan, in her theatrical debut, and Abhishek Bachchan in the lead roles.^[26][27]

As assistant director

• Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001)
• Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002)
• Hum Tum (2004)

Television

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Writer	Producer	Notes
2020	Flesh	Story	Yes	8 Episodes

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Fighter

While analyzing the Fighter's opening numbers, Anand shared his dissection during an interview with Galatta Plus. He explained that the aerial action genre was highly experimental and lacked a reference point for domestic audiences.^[32] He stated that:

"There is a huge percentage of our country, I would say 90%, who have not flown in planes and who have not been to an airport, so how would they know what's happening in the movie? They felt this is a little alien."

^[33][34]

The comment immediately backfired on social media. Internet users heavily trolled the director, calling his logic absurd and out-of-touch. Critics and audiences pointed out structural contradictions in his argument using satirical memes.

Months later, Anand clarified his stance, claiming his statement was taken completely out of context. He specified that he never meant people without flight experience could not comprehend the plot. Instead, he meant that the inherent thrill and exhilaration intended by fighter jet action sequences are simply harder to resonate with emotionally compared to ground-level action like car chases or gunfights.^[35][36]

Juhu-Bandra Remark Reaction

While hosting the Screen Awards 2026, comedian Zakir Khan took a humorous dig at the film fraternity. He implied that despite posting public congratulations on social media, the core industry was deeply envious of the film's success.^[37] He delivered a viral punchline:

"Kitni hi congratulatory post aap daal dein... par sach toh yeh hai doston, Dhurandhar se sabki jali toh hai. Dekhiye bomb film mein phute Liyari mein par dhuaan hua hai Bandra se Juhu mein."

The reference to "Bandra and Juhu" pointed directly to Mumbai's posh residential hubs, which house Bollywood's elite production companies and stars.

The joke did not sit well with Anand. Taking to social media platform X, Anand directly defended the legacy of the mainstream Mumbai film fraternity:

"Juhu - Bandra peeps have given all ATBB's (all-time blockbusters) since the past 50 years. You have to be a real duffer to undermine their contribution."

^[38][39]