Ayan Mukerji


Ayan Mukerji is an Indian film director from the cinema prominent Sashadhar Mukherjee family. Mukerji made his directorial debut at the age of 26 with the coming-of-age comedy Wake Up Sid, produced by Karan Johar. The film opened to strong reviews and box office returns. His next release, the 2013 romantic comedy, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, ranks among the Highest-grossing Hindi films of that year. He is often referred to as Ranbir Kapoor's best friend and he also stated in an interview that Kapoor has become "something of a muse" to him.

Early life and background

Mukerji was born in a Bengali Brahmin family in Kolkata, India, the son of Bengali film actor Deb Mukherjee. His family was steeped in the Indian film industry since the 1930, when his grandfather, Sashadhar Mukherjee, first ventured by chance into the field. Sashadhar Mukherje was a pioneering film producer who was one of the founding partners of Filmistan Studio in Mumbai, and produced films like Dil Deke Dekho, Love in Simla, Ek Musafir Ek Hasina and Leader . The studio is still run by Ayan's extended family.
Ayan's grandmother, Satidevi Mukherjee, wife of Sashadhar Mukherji, was the sister of pioneer actor Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar and singer Kishore Kumar. Ayan's grandfather's brothers were film producer Prabodh Mukherjee, director Subodh Mukherjee and Ravindra Mohan Mukherjee, grandfather of actress Rani Mukherjee. Ayan's father's brothers were actors Joy Mukherjee, Deb Mukherjee, Subir Mukherjee and Shomu Mukherjee, who is the husband of actress Tanuja and father of actresses Kajol and Tanisha Mukherjee.
Mukerjee studied at Jamnabai Narsee School in Vile Parle, Mumbai. He later attended Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology but dropped out after the first year to become an assistant director on the film Swades.

Career

Mukherji started his career as an assistant to Ashutosh Gowariker, his brother-in-law, on the 2004 film, Swades, and later to Johar on Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. After taking a short break from filmmaking, Mukerji wrote the screenplay for Wake Up Sid and gave it to Johar who decided it should become a film. The film starred Konkona Sen Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor in lead roles and went on to become a commercial and critical success.
Mukerji's next film, also under Karan Johar's banner Dharma Productions, was Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, with Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor in lead roles. It was a huge commercial success. The movie grossed Rs. 1 billion at the box office in just 7 days. It became the fourth highest grossing Indian movie of all time.
Currently, Mukerji is involved in his next film, a superhero trilogy titled Brahmastra, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy, and Akkineni Nagarjuna.
Although Mukerji belongs to a Bengali family, he said he will never make a Bengali film because it would not reach many people.

Filmography

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Actor

2010: Filmfare Awards