Director Shaad Ali makes comeback

Directors are as important to a film as its star cast, if not more. In fact, some directors like Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have become brands and movies sell on their names rather than their actors. This year several veteran directors like Shekhar Kapur, Ramesh Sippy, Sooraj Barjatya and Kundan Shah who are a name to reckon with are making a comeback to the movie business after a long sabbatical. A lowdown..

Shaad Ali: This low-profile director has only directed three films in his decade long career. Having made his debut with the superhit Saathiya, he followed it with another blockbuster Bunty Aur Babli. However, his last outing Jhoom Barabar Jhoom did not fare well at the box office after which Shaad took a break from direction and assisted his mentor Mani Ratnam on films like Raavan. He also battled some personal problems and now five years after Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, the director is back with an action film Kill Dil starring Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra and Ali Zafar. Shaad who was the first to bring the father-son duo of Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan together in a film, Bunty Aur Babli has again done something hatke. He has cast Govinda, who is making a comeback to films after four years, as an antagonist.

Sooraj Barjatya: The director whose last directorial venture was Vivaah in 2006 was waiting to reunite with his Maine Pyaar Kiya actor Salman Khan. And it's been a long wait indeed! Salman who was busy with Dabangg, also suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia for which he had to go abroad for treatment. Sooraj patiently waited through all this including Dabangg 2, Kick and finally got the actor to shoot for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo this year. The first schedule of the movie which will have Salman in a double role has been completed in Karjat. The Diwali release has raised a lot of expectations as Sooraj-Salman combo has always worked at the box-office. From Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hai Koun to Hum Saath Saath Hai, the duo has created magic. And their next outing which has Salman playing a prince and a common man should be another family entertainer and going by their track-record a winner too!

Ramesh Sippy: The Sholay director is back to wielding the megaphone two decades after Zamana Deewana that starred Shah Rukh Khan. The veteran director is helming a love story Shimla Mirchi with newcomer Rakul Preet Singh and Citylights actor Rajkumar Rao. What's more he has managed to rope in his lucky charm Hema Malini with whom he has given blockbusters like Andaz and Seeta Aur Geeta in the film. It would be interesting to see Sippy who has always been known to make films that are ahead of time, making a quirky romance for today's generation.

Muzaffar Ali: The multifaceted Muzaffar Ali, best remembered for the Rekha starrer Umrao Jaan is gearing up to return to cinema with Raqs - The Dance Within. The film on the life of revolutionary dancer stars the Pakistani actor Imran Abbas and fashion Pernia Qureshi who makes her acting debut. Shot in Lucknow the film is set 20 years after Umrao Jaan. With dance sequences choreographed by Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj, it's another period film from the ace filmmaker. How this classical dance drama fares amidst the hip hops and freestyle dancing that is the mainstay of Bollywood is something one can't wait to watch.

Shekhar Kapur: The director known for films like Masoom and Mr India had taken a sabbatical from Bollywood to concentrate on his Hollywood career. After the award-winning Elizabeth, the maverick director is back on home turf to finally realise his film Paani based on water scarcity. The film that had been announced several years ago with Hrithik Roshan is finally taking off with Sushant Singh Rajput and Ayesha 'Black' Kapur in the lead roles. Hope this Paani flows without any glitches to its completion!

Kundan Shah: The man behind the cult classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron is all set to make a comeback with a political satire P Se PM Tak. Starring south star Meenakshi Dixit, the film is about a prostitute who becomes a minister. The film is slated to release next year. Now, whether it recreates the magic of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, which was also a dark satire, is something we have to wait and watch.