David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan; 16 August 1951) is an Indian director of Hindi films. A member of the Dhawan family, he has directed over 42 films. The 1993 action thriller Aankhen and 1999 comedy Biwi No.1 earned him nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. His notable works include Swarg (1990), Shola Aur Shabnam, Bol Radha Bol (both 1992), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No.1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Judwaa, Hero No. 1, Deewana Mastana (all 1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), Jodi No.1 (2001), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Partner (2007), Chashme Baddoor (2013), Main Tera Hero (2014), Judwaa 2 (2017), and Coolie No. 1 (2020).

David Dhawan
Dhawan in 2024
Born
Rajinder Dhawan

(1951-08-16) 16 August 1951 (age 73)
OccupationFilmmaker
SpouseKaruna Dhawan
ChildrenRohit Dhawan (son)
Varun Dhawan (son)
RelativesSee Dhawan family

Personal life

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David Dhawan was born on 16 August 1951[2][3] as Rajinder Dhawan in Agartala, Tripura in a Punjabi family. His father, a manager in UCO Bank, got transferred to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He studied in Christ Church College and BNSD Inter College until Class XII, and then joined FTII for acting, where he changed his name to David Dhawan, a name given by his Christian neighbours in Agartala. Seeing other actors like Satish Shah and Suresh Oberoi, Dhawan realised that he cannot act. So he took up editing as an option. He became a fan of Manmohan Desai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Watching the Bengali film Meghe Dhaka Tara, directed by Ritwik Ghatak, made him interested in filmmaking and passed with a gold medal.[1][4] Dhawan has two brothers, actor Anil and Ashok.

Dhawan is married to Karuna Dhawan (née Chopra),[5][6] with whom he has two sons, Rohit Dhawan and Varun Dhawan. His brother is actor Anil Dhawan and nephew is actor Siddharth Dhawan.[7]

Career

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Dhawan[8] started off as an editor in Saaransh in 1984 before moving into directing. He specialises in directing comedy films.[9] His 1993 film Aankhen, starring Govinda, Chunky Pandey and Kader Khan, was highly successful at the box office, and earned him his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.[9] Another successful film was Shola Aur Shabnam.[9] His 2007 film Partner was successful.[10]

Dhawan is on the board of Asian Academy of Film & Television and Asian School of Media Studies where he has been honoured with an academy award by Sandeep Marwah. He was a judge on the Star Plus show Nach Baliye 3[11] in 2008 and on the show Hans Baliye.[12]

Work with Govinda

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Dhawan first teamed with actor Govinda[13] for the film Taaqatwar (1989). He then formed a collaboration with Govinda and directed 18 films with him as the leading actor, including Swarg (1990), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Banarasi Babu (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Hero No. 1 (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Kunwara (2000), Jodi No.1 (2001), Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), Partner (2007) and Do Knot Disturb (2009). Partner, which also starred Salman Khan, grossed Rs. 300 Million in India on its opening week, the second highest domestic opening week gross for an Indian film at that time.[14] The same year, Salman Khan invited Dhawan[15] and Govinda[16] on his show 10 Ka Dum to celebrate Partner. Dhawan also collaborated with Khan in Biwi No.1 (1999), which emerged as a critical and commercial success, and earned Dhawan his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. Dhawan got back to the trio of Govinda, Ritesh Deshmukh and himself with the film, Do Knot Disturb.[17]

Filmography

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Year Film Notes
1989 Taaqatwar
Gola Barood
Aag Ka Gola
Jurrat Remake of The Untouchables
1990 Swarg Inspired by Mehrban
Aandhiyan
1991 Ek aur Faulad Unreleased
1992 Shola Aur Shabnam
Bol Radha Bol
1993 Aankhen Inspired by Anubavi Raja Anubavi
1994 Raja Babu Inspired by Rasukutty
Eena Meena Deeka Inspired by Three Fugitives
Andaz Remake of Sundara Kandam
1995 Yaraana Based on Sleeping with the Enemy
Coolie No. 1 Remake of Sinna Mapplai
1996 Loafer Remake of Velai Kidaichuduchu
Saajan Chale Sasural Remake of Allari Mogudu
1997 Mr and Mrs Khiladi Remake of Aa Okkati Adakku
Banarasi Babu Inspired by The Taming of the Shrew and Pattikada Pattanama
Judwaa Remake of Hello Brother
Deewana Mastana Inspired by What About Bob?
Hero No. 1 Inspired by Bawarchi
1998 Gharwali Baharwali Remake of Thaikulame Thaikulame
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Inspired by Bad Boys
1999 Biwi No.1 Remake of Sathi Leelavathi
Haseena Maan Jaayegi Inspired by Pyar Kiye Jaa
2000 Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge Inspired by Ek Phool Char Kante
Kunwara Remake of Bavagaru Bagunnara?
Chal Mere Bhai
2001 Jodi No.1
Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta Inspired by Liar Liar
2002 Chor Machaaye Shor Remake of Blue Streak
Yeh Hai Jalwa Inspired by Carbon Copy
Hum Kisise Kum Nahin Inspired by Analyze This
2003 Ek Aur Ek Gyarah
2004 Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Inspired by Anger Management
2005 Shaadi No. 1 Remake of Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya Adaptation of Cactus Flower
2007 Partner Based on Hitch
2009 Do Knot Disturb Remake of The Valet
2011 Rascals Remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2013 Chashme Buddoor Remake of Chashme Buddoor
2014 Main Tera Hero Remake of Kandireega
2017 Judwaa 2 Remake of Judwaa
2020 Coolie No. 1 Remake of Coolie No. 1

Awards and nominations

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Year Film Award Ceremony Category Result
1994 Aankhen Filmfare Awards Best Director Nominated
2000 Biwi No.1 Nominated
Best Film Nominated
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Won

References

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  1. ^ a b Gupta, Priya (2 April 2013). "Govinda is a delight for the director: David Dhawan". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Varun Dhawan wishes dad David Dhawan on 70th birthday, calls him 'king of comedy'. Watch video". Hindustan Times. ANI. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ^ "David Dhawan Birthday Special: 'Biwi No.1', 'Judwaa' and other hit comedy films of the director". Free Press Journal. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Govinda blasts David Dhawan: I did 17 films with him. Even his son Varun will not do that". India Today. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. ^ Baddhan, Raj (3 April 2014). "Varun Dhawan's grandmother passes away". Biz Asia. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Muthanna, Anjali (3 April 2014) (3 April 2014). "Bangalore girls go selfie-crazy with Varun Dhawan". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 April 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Rajiv Vijayakar (26 July 2012). "Numero Unos: A Survey of the Top Hit Films – Part 5: Whizkid directors". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  8. ^ "David Dhawan thinks it's very feasible for Hindi film makers to shoot abroad". News18. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "David Dhawan > Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Box Office 2007". BoxofficeIndia.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  11. ^ Shah, Kunal M. (18 September 2007). "The secret is out!". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  12. ^ "David Dhawan and Karisma to judge Hans Baliye." India Forums. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Happy Birthday David Dhawan: His Most Unforgettable Movies Featuring Govinda". News18. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  14. ^ Tuteja, Joginder (2 August 2007). "Box office analysis". India Glitz. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  15. ^ Sharma, Priyanka (21 August 2017). "David Dhawan on working with Govinda again: Why not? We have created history". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  16. ^ Goyal, Divya (22 August 2017). "Hey Govinda, Here's What David Dhawan Said About Working With You Again". NDTV. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  17. ^ Kumar, Anuj (3 October 2009). "Do Knot Disturb: Check it out for Govinda". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
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