As
the
saying
goes,
'A
director
is
someone
who
presides
over
a
series
of
accidents,'
and
in
2023,
Indian
cinema
bore
witness
to
these
beautiful
accidents
in
the
form
of
emerging
directors
making
their
debuts.
From
engaging
narratives
to
inventive
storytelling,
these
newcomers
infused
the
film
industry
with
fresh
perspectives.
Their
impactful
beginnings
not
only
marked
this
year
but
also
laid
the
foundation
for
promising
careers
in
filmmaking.
As
we
bid
farewell
to
the
year,
let's
celebrate
and
reflect
on
the
talents
who
stepped
into
the
directorial
limelight
for
the
first
time,
leaving
an
enduring
mark
on
the
cinematic
landscape.
Atlee
-
Jawan
Renowned
for
directing
Tamil
blockbusters
such
as
'Bigil'
(2019)
and
'Theri'
(2016),
Atlee
ventured
into
Hindi
cinema
with
his
directorial
debut,
'Jawan.'
Starring
Shah
Rukh
Khan,
Vijay
Sethupathi,
and
Nayanthara
in
key
roles,
the
film
not
only
lived
up
to
the
director's
track
record
but
also
emerged
as
a
colossal
success
at
the
box
office,
breaking
records
and
securing
its
place
among
the
most
significant
releases
in
Indian
cinema.
Abhishek
Sinha
-
Tumse
Na
Ho
Payega
After
excelling
in
marketing
and
advertising,
Abhishek
Sinha
made
his
film
debut
with
'Tumse
Na
Ho
Payega'
on
Disney+Hotstar.
With
an
impressive
18-year
storytelling
journey
for
top
brands,
Abhishek
didn't
just
make
a
movie
-
he
unleashed
a
fresh
vibe
onto
the
screen.
His
unique
vision
infused
life
into
the
narrative,
turning
it
into
a
universally
gripping
tale.
With
an
eagle-eyed
focus
on
details,
Abhishek's
plunge
into
filmmaking
showcased
meticulous
preparation
and
a
deep
understanding
of
the
subject.
His
directorial
finesse
and
expertise
not
only
propelled
'Tumse
Na
Ho
Payega'
to
the
streaming
platform's
top
spot
but
also
made
it
a
relatable
cinematic
experience
for
diverse
audiences.
Prior
to
this,
his
directorial
prowess
shone
in
ad
films
and
music
videos
like
'Tera
Zikr,'
'Hawa
Banke,'
and
'Main
Kisi
Aur
Ka,'
featuring
Darshan
Raval.
Akshat
Ajay
Sharma
-
Haddi
Akshat
Ajay
Sharma
defied
expectations
by
casting
Nawazuddin
Siddiqui
as
a
eunuch
in
his
directorial
debut.
The
film,
titled
"Haddi," not
only
showcased
Akshat's
ability
to
handle
unconventional
ideas
but
also
received
positive
feedback
from
the
audience.
Akshat's
journey
in
the
film
industry
saw
him
rise
from
being
an
Assistant
Director
on
'Mukkabaaz"
to
assuming
roles
as
a
Creative
Assistant
and
Associate
Editor
on
projects
like
"Manmarziyan"
(2018)
and
'Lust
Stories.'
Known
for
his
long-term
collaboration
with
Anurag
Kashyap,
Akshat
also
served
as
the
Second
Unit
Director
on
'Sacred
Games
Season
2'.
Shantanu
Bagchi
-
Mission
Majnu
Shantanu
Bagchi
made
his
directorial
debut
with
'Mission
Majnu',
featuring
Sidharth
Malhotra
and
Rashmika
Mandanna
in
the
lead
roles.
The
film
had
Malhotra
portraying
the
character
of
an
R&AW
agent,
and
it
was
inspired
by
an
incident
from
the
Indo-Pakistan
War
of
1971.
Before
'Mission
Majnu,'
Bagchi
directed
a
short
film
titled
Nycil
Cool
Shower.
Having
successfully
brought
together
Malhotra
and
Mandanna
for
his
spy
thriller,
Bagchi's
film
received
positive
feedback
for
his
captivating
narrative.
Sarvesh
Mewara
-
Tejas
Kangana
Ranaut's
much-anticipated
film
'Tejas'
marked
Sarvesh
Mewara's
directorial
debut,
focusing
on
the
story
of
a
brave
fighter
pilot.
In
a
unique
twist,
Mewara
challenged
traditional
gender
roles
in
filmmaking,
depicting
men
in
supporting
roles
as
either
love
interests
or
individuals
rescued
by
Tejas,
the
protagonist.
Before
Tejas,
Mewara
was
set
to
direct
Anurag
Kashyap's
'Gulab
Jamun'
with
Abhishek
Bachchan
and
Aishwarya
Rai
Bachchan.
Additionally,
Mewara
directed
a
short
film
titled
The
Girl
and
the
Auto
Rickshaw.
Sameer
Vidwans
-
Satya
Prem
Ki
Katha
Though
recognized
primarily
as
an
accomplished
Marathi
film
director,
Sameer
ventured
into
Hindi
cinema
with
his
debut
film,
'Satya
Prem
Ki
Katha,'
starring
Kartik
Aaryan
and
Kiara
Advani.
The
movie
not
only
achieved
commercial
success
but
also
received
widespread
critical
acclaim,
swiftly
becoming
a
favourite
among
audiences.
Its
resonance
with
viewers
can
be
attributed
to
the
film's
subject
matter
and
the
compelling
way
it
was
presented,
establishing
an
instant
connection
with
the
audience.
Karan
Boolani
-
Thank
You
For
Coming
Karan
Boolani,
entered
the
realm
of
Hindi
film
direction
with
"Thank
You
for
Coming." The
ensemble
cast,
comprising
Anil
Kapoor,
Bhumi
Pednekar,
Shehnaaz
Gill,
Shibani
Bedi,
Natasha
Rastogi,
Kusha
Kapila,
Karan
Kundrra,
and
Dolly
Singh,
delved
into
a
subject
rarely
explored
in
Bollywood.
Beyond
its
surface
as
a
lighthearted
and
humorous
take
on
female
pleasure,
the
film
delved
into
core
themes
such
as
patriarchy,
challenging
societal
norms,
and
relationships,
offering
a
unique
perspective
not
commonly
seen
in
mainstream
Hindi
movies.
Yashowardhan
Mishra
-
Kathal
Yashowardhan
Mishra
embarked
on
his
directorial
journey
by
delving
into
socio-cultural
themes
within
the
heartland
of
central
India
in
the
Netflix
film
'Kathal,'
featuring
Sanya
Malhotra
in
the
lead
role.
The
film,
serving
as
a
social
commentary,
received
acclaim
for
its
performances
and
adept
handling
of
satirical
drama.
Aasmaan
Bhardwaj
-
Kuttey
Aasmaan
Bhardwaj,
the
son
of
legendary
filmmaker
Vishal
Bhardwaj,
entered
the
world
of
directing
and
made
his
debut
with
the
film
"Kuttey."
The
film
featured
an
ensemble
cast
including
Tabu,
Arjun
Kapoor,
and
Radhika
Madan,
Konkona
Sen
Sharma,
Kumud
Mishra,
and
Shardul
Bhardwaj.
While
the
Aasmaan
impressed
everyone
with
his
directorial
skills,
the
film
received
a
lukewarm
response.
Victor
Mukherjee
-
Lakadbaggha
Victor
Mukherjee
made
his
directorial
debut
with
the
film
'Lakadbaggha,'
which
clashed
with
Bhardwaj's
'Kuttey.'
Starring
Anshuman
Jha
and
Riddhi
Dogra
in
lead
roles,
the
movie
revolved
around
Arjun
Bakshi,
an
animal
rescuer
from
Kolkata,
who
exposed
cattle
smuggling
in
his
quest
to
find
his
missing
dog.
Before
this
venture,
Mukherjee
had
directed
web
series
such
as
'Love
Lust
and
Confusion.'