Some directors are a rare breed when it comes to acting, but the reality is that they do exist. These directors know their outstanding work behind the camera and on the camera. Despite having a small role in the movies, they made an appearance that we remember whenever we talk about their movies with family, friends, or even colleagues. To relive those moments with your favorite directors, here is the list of the top 15 famous directors who did a cameo in their popular movies.
Director Cameos in Their Own Films
1. Atlee
Arun Kumar, known professionally as Atlee, is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his work in Tamil films.
He began his career as an assistant director under S. Shankar in films like Enthiran and Nanban. He made his directorial debut with the Fox Star Studios film Raja Rani (2013), for which he received the Vijay Award for Best Debut Director and the Tamil Nadu State Award for Best Dialogue Writer.
He directed films like Theri, Mersal, and Bigil, all featuring Vijay, all of which became commercially successful at the box office. With his recent direction, the Hindi-language movie Jawan (2023), starring Shah Rukh Khan, emerged as his highest-grossing film of 2023.
His latest cameo came with Shah Rukh Khan, dancing to one of the songs of his directorial blockbuster film, Jawan.
2. Siddharth Anand
Siddharth Anand is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who has directed and delivered several Bollywood biggest films.
Siddharth Anand began his career in films as the screenplay co-writer, executive producer, and associate director for the romantic comedy Hum Tum (2004). He finally made his directorial debut with Yash Raj Films’ romantic comedy-drama Salaam Namaste, starring Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta where he appeared as a cab driver for one of the scenes in his movie.
With films like Tara Rum Pum, Bachna Ae Haseeno, War and Pathaan, Siddharth Anand is now considered as one of the best directors in Bollywood currently.
3. Ayaan Mukherjee
Ayan Mukerji is an Indian filmmaker who works in Hindi films. He made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age film Wake Up Sid (2009), which opened to strong reviews and box office returns. He later on directed the films Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022), both of which rank among the highest-grossing Hindi films.
He was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Director for all three of his films, while Wake Up Sid won him a Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director.
Ayan Mukerji also made his acting debut in the 2013 film “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani” in which he played a small role as a wedding guest.
4. Anurag Kashyap
In the list of the top 15 famous directors who did a cameo in their popular movies is Anurag Kashyap, who is known for his extraordinary work in various movies like Gangs of Wasseypur Part 1 and Part 2. Many wouldn’t know that he directed critically acclaimed movies such as Black Friday (2007), a film on the 1993 Bombay bombings, DevD, Gulaal, and Black Friday. He has acted in many movies as a protagonist.
With his movie as a director, “No Smoking” he made an appearance in a lift with the leading actor of the film, John Abraham.
Anurag Kashyap is also known for playing the protagonist in various films which was appreciated by a larger audience.
5. Farah Khan
Farah Khan is a versatile personality in the Indian film industry, known for her roles as a film director, producer, choreographer, and actress. She has made significant contributions to Bollywood with her distinctive style and talent.
As a director, Farah Khan has driven successful films such as “Main Hoon Na,” “Om Shanti Om,” and “Happy New Year”. She also appeared in the post-credit scene of ‘Om Shanti Om‘, which is one of the funniest scenes in the movie.
6. Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who has made a significant impact on Bollywood. He’s known for directing and producing successful films like “Karz,” “Hero,” “Ram Lakhan”, “Pardes” and “Taal”.
The director Shubhash Ghai has made an appearance in almost every movie of his, which people recognize him. Like in his directed movie “Taal” he made an appearance with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
7. Prakash Jha
Prakash Jha is an acclaimed Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his work in Bollywood.
He is particularly recognized for his films that address social and political issues in India. Prakash Jha has acted in several films, like “Jai Gangaajal” where he played the brilliant role of a police officer and added a glance to the movie through his performance.
8. Madhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar is an accomplished Indian film director, scriptwriter, and producer known for his work in Bollywood.
He gained recognition for his realistic and hard-hitting films that often explore various aspects of society, including the entertainment industry and political scenarios.
Some of his notable films include “Chandni Bar,” “Page 3,” and “Fashion” for which he won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and the National Film Award for Best Direction.
He shot a scene in the movie “Fashion”, which was critically acclaimed by the Indian audience.
9. Anurag Basu
Anurag Basu is a talented Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his work in Bollywood. He is recognized for his unique storytelling style and innovative approach to filmmaking.
Some of his notable works include “Barfi!” which received widespread acclaim for its storytelling and performances, and “Life in a… Metro,” a film that explores the complexities of urban life.
He made an appearance in his directed movie with Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif on one of the songs ‘Galti Se Mistake‘ from the movie, Jagga Jasoos.
10. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a prominent Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his impactful and socially relevant films in Bollywood. He gained widespread recognition for his critically acclaimed film “Rang De Basanti,” which explored themes of patriotism and activism.
Mehra is also known for directing films like “Delhi-6”, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, ”Toofan”.
He made an appearance in the movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and we bet you have not realized him on the scene in the role of a pilot.
11. Vipul Shah
Vipul Shah is an Indian film director and producer known for his work in Bollywood. He has directed and produced a variety of films, spanning different genres.
Some of his notable directorial works include “Aankhen”, “Waqt: The Race Against Time,” and especially the movie “Namastey London”, where he appears in a scene with Ritesh Deshmukh.
As a producer, he has been associated with successful films like “Singh is Kinng” and “Force.
12. Rajkumar Santoshi
Rajkumar Santoshi is a respected Indian film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to Bollywood.
He has directed and written films that often blend various genres and explore different facets of Indian society.
Some of his notable works include “Andaz Apna Apna,” a cult classic comedy, and “Ghayal,” an action drama that earned critical acclaim. Santoshi has also directed films like “Damini and Lajja”.
He also made an appearance in the movie,’Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani’.
13. Sajid Farhad
Sajid-Farhad is a Bollywood screenwriting and directing duo consisting of Sajid Samji and Farhad Samji. They are known for their collaboration in writing and directing various Hindi films.
As writers, they have contributed to the scripts of popular films like the “Golmaal” series, “Housefull 2,” and “Chennai Express.” As directors, they have worked on movies such as “Entertainment” and “Housefull 3.
Sajid-Farhad made their directorial debut with the movie ‘Its Entertainment’ and both made a guest appearance in the same film, a slapstick comedy film starring Akshay Kumar and Tamannaah Bhatia.
14. Neeraj Vora
The late Neeraj Vora was an Indian film director, writer, and actor known for his work in Bollywood. He directed films like “Phir Hera Pheri” and “Khiladi 420” and wrote scripts for movies like “Hera Pheri” and “Rangeela.”
He was a versatile talent in the Indian film industry, contributing as a writer, director, and actor.
He has written the screenplay and dialogue for some popular Bollywood comedy films, including Hera Pheri franchise, Garam Masala (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Bhool Bhulaiya (2007).
He has been famous for playing various characters in different kinds of movies, like Dhadkan, Bol Bachchan.
However, with his directorial movie, Phir Hera Pheri, he made a cameo for a bus scene with Akshay Kumar and Rimi Sen.
15. Karan Johar
The last on the list of the top 15 famous directors who did a cameo in their popular movies is Karan Johar, a multifaceted personality in the Indian film industry, renowned for his roles as a filmmaker, producer, talk show host, and entrepreneur.
He is one of the leading figures in Bollywood and has played a significant role in shaping the industry.
As a director, Karan Johar gave beautiful films like “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” and “My Name Is Khan.”
Additionally, He made an appearance in his own directed movie Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, where he filmed himself in a scene.
Apart from that, he is the founder of Dharma Productions, a successful film production company that has produced numerous blockbuster movies. His recently directed film, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani became one of the blockbusters in the year 2023.
This article explores the top 15 famous directors who did a cameo in their popular movies.
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- Atlee
- Subhash Ghai
- Farah Khan
- Karan Johar
- Vipul Shah
- Siddharta Anand
- Rajkumar Santoshi
- Sajid-Farhad
- Neeraj Vohra
- Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
- Anurag Basu
- Madhur Bhandarkar
- Prakash Jha
- Anurag Kashyap
- Ayaan Mukherjee
Monal Bhoje
Contributer
I'm Monal Bhoje, a passionate Content Writer on a mission to decode the ever-changing landscape of the online world. Let's make this a space where we all grow and succeed online.