Aditya Dhar
Aditya Dhar is a celebrated Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and lyricist, renowned for his impactful storytelling and successful cinematic ventures. He burst onto the scene with a critically acclaimed and commercially successful military action film that redefined the genre, earning him prestigious accolades. His journey from crafting song lyrics to helming major motion pictures showcases a versatile talent consistently pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema. Aditya Dhar's directorial debut, "Uri: The Surgical Strike," was a groundbreaking success that established his unique vision for patriotic action films. His multifaceted career extends beyond directing, encompassing significant contributions as a screenwriter, producer, and lyricist, highlighting a comprehensive understanding of filmmaking. Dhar has received widespread critical recognition, including major National and Filmfare Awards, cementing his status as a leading creative force in Bollywood.
AI Summary
Aditya Dhar is a celebrated Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, and lyricist, renowned for his impactful storytelling and successful cinematic ventures. He burst onto the scene with a critically acclaimed and commercially successful military action film that redefined the genre, earning him prestigious accolades. His journey from crafting song lyrics to helming major motion pictures showcases a versatile talent consistently pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema.
- Aditya Dhar's directorial debut, "Uri: The Surgical Strike," was a groundbreaking success that established his unique vision for patriotic action films.
- His multifaceted career extends beyond directing, encompassing significant contributions as a screenwriter, producer, and lyricist, highlighting a comprehensive understanding of filmmaking.
- Dhar has received widespread critical recognition, including major National and Filmfare Awards, cementing his status as a leading creative force in Bollywood.
The Visionary Behind the Lens
Aditya Dhar, born on March 12, 1983, has quickly emerged as one of Indian cinema's most compelling storytellers. While he wears many hats — director, screenwriter, producer, and lyricist — it was his work on the military action film, "Uri: The Surgical Strike," that truly put him on the global map.
Personal Life and Heritage
Hailing from New Delhi, India, Dhar is proudly part of the Kashmiri Pandit community. His roots run deep in Indian culture, influencing the narratives and themes he often explores in his work.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dhar shares a beautiful personal life. He married actress Yami Gautam on June 4, 2021, and the couple recently welcomed their first child, a son named Vedavid Dhar, on May 10, 2024.
A Trailblazing Career: The Uri Phenomenon
In 2019, Aditya Dhar made his directorial debut with "Uri: The Surgical Strike" — a film that would send shockwaves through the industry. This gripping action film was based on the true events of the 2016 Uri attack, dramatizing India's retaliatory strike with cinematic flair.
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the RSVP Movies banner, "Uri" featured a stellar cast including Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam, and Paresh Rawal. The film was primarily shot in Serbia, bringing a raw and authentic feel to its intense narrative.
The film wasn't just a critical darling; it was a commercial juggernaut. "Uri" amassed over ₹2.4 billion in India alone, and more than ₹3.5 billion worldwide, securing its place as one of the highest-grossing Indian films domestically.
Dhar's masterful direction earned him significant accolades, including the prestigious National Film Award for Best Director and the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director. These honors solidified his reputation as a visionary filmmaker from his very first feature.
Expanding Horizons: B62 Studios and Ambitious Projects
Building on his success, Aditya Dhar launched his own production company, B62 Studios, in 2021. This move signaled his intent to not only direct but also to nurture and produce compelling cinematic stories under his own creative banner.
One of his most anticipated projects was "The Immortal Ashwatthama," a planned mythological superhero trilogy that would have reunited him with Vicky Kaushal, co-starring Sara Ali Khan. Backed once again by Ronnie Screwvala, it promised to be an epic cinematic spectacle.
Unfortunately, despite its grand announcement on the second anniversary of "Uri's" release, "The Immortal Ashwatthama" faced significant delays. A combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and budgetary constraints ultimately led to the ambitious project being shelved.
Upcoming Ventures
Undeterred, Dhar quickly moved on to his next big venture: "Dhurandhar." This highly anticipated feature film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring Ranveer Singh alongside talents like Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Akshaye Khanna. It's currently slated for release on December 5, 2025.
A Diverse Filmography
Aditya Dhar's contributions to cinema extend far beyond his directorial efforts, showcasing his versatility as a screenwriter and producer across various projects. His filmography reflects a dynamic involvement in the Indian film industry.
Year Title Director Screenwriter Producer Notes 2009 Boond Associate Yes No Short film; also casting director 2010 Aakrosh No Dialogues No 2012 Tezz No Dialogues No 2018 Kharvas No No Yes Short film 2019 Uri: The Surgical Strike Yes Yes No 2020 Amritsar Junction No No Yes Short film 2024 Article 370 No Yes Yes 2025 Dhoom Dhaam No Yes Yes Dhurandhar Yes Yes Yes Filming
The Sound of Storytelling: A Lyricist's Touch
Before making his mark as a director, Aditya Dhar showcased his creative depth as a lyricist. He penned numerous songs for various films and albums, demonstrating an early understanding of narrative and emotion through melody.
Year Title Artist Album 2006 "Kabul Fiza" Raghav Sachar Kabul Express 2007 All Songs Raghav Sachar Play It Loud (Album) 2008 "Rang", "Khwahish" Haal-e-Dil 2009 5 songs Daddy Cool 2011 4 songs Phhir
A Trophy Case Full of Talent
Aditya Dhar's exceptional talent has not gone unnoticed. His work, particularly on "Uri: The Surgical Strike," has garnered him numerous prestigious awards and nominations from across the Indian film fraternity, cementing his position as a formidable force in the industry.
Year Work Award Category Result 2019 Uri: The Surgical Strike 66th National Film Awards Best Director Won 2019 Uri: The Surgical Strike Jagran Film Festival Best Debut Director Won 2019 Uri: The Surgical Strike 26th Screen Awards Best Director Nominated 2019 Uri: The Surgical Strike 26th Screen Awards Most Promising Debut Director Won 2020 Uri: The Surgical Strike 65th Filmfare Awards Best Director Nominated 2020 Uri: The Surgical Strike 65th Filmfare Awards Best Debut Director Won 2020 Uri: The Surgical Strike Zee Cine Awards Best Director Nominated 2020 Uri: The Surgical Strike Zee Cine Awards Most Promising Director Won 2021 Uri: The Surgical Strike 21st IIFA Awards Best Director Won 2021 Uri: The Surgical Strike 21st IIFA Awards Best Story Nominated
Article
Aditya Dhar
Aditya Dhar (born 12 March 1983) is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, producer and lyricist who works in Hindi cinema. Previously worked as screenwriter and lyricist, Dhar made his directorial debut with the 2019 war film Uri: The Surgical Strike, a commercially successful, which earned him the National Film Award for Best Direction. He followed up with the spy action thrillers Dhurandhar (2025) and its sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026), which both grossed over ₹1,000 crore at the box office, making Dhar only the second director to have two films surpass that milestone.
Early and personal life
Aditya Dhar
Dhar was born on 12 March 1983 in New Delhi into a Kashmiri Pandit family. His mother Sunita Dhar was a former dean at Delhi University, where he also graduated before spending nearly two decades in music theatre, which helped shape his screenwriting career. His elder brother, Lokesh Dhar, has served as a leading studio executive at UTV Motion Pictures and later Fox Star Studios. In 2021, he and Lokesh co-founded the production company B62 Studios.
On 4 June 2021, Dhar married Indian actress Yami Gautam in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. Their first child, Vedavid, was born on 10 May 2024.
Career
Early career (2006—2018)
In 2006, Dhar moved to Mumbai and began his career as an assistant director. He contributed lyrics for songs composed by Raghav Sachar in the films Kabul Express,Haal-e-Dil and Daddy Cool. He joined as an assistant director to Priyadarshan and served as the dialogue writer for the director's films, Aakrosh and Tezz.
Directorial breakthrough (2019—2025)
Dhar receiving the Best Director Award for Uri: The Surgical Strike at 66th National Film Awards
In 2019, Dhar made his directorial debut with Uri: The Surgical Strike, a war action film starring Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam and Paresh Rawal; it was produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the RSVP Movies banner and was filmed in Serbia. It was based on real-life retaliation operations following the 2016 Uri attack and received widespread acclaim for direction, cinematography, superbly executed single shot combat scenes and for thrilling and gripping narrative style. The film became a commercial success, grossing over ₹3.5 billion (US$41 million) worldwide, becoming tenth highest-grossing Indian film domestically. For this film, he received the National Film Award for Best Director and the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director. The slogan "How's the Josh" used in the film went viral in Indian social media. This question is asked to the cadets in military academies in India to test their enthusiasm. The slogan was also used by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the National Museum of Indian Cinema of Films Division of India.
Dhar was scheduled to collaborate with Vicky Kaushal again for the mythological superhero film The Immortal Ashwatthama. In 2021, the film was planned as a trilogy and was expected to begin filming; however, it was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic and budgetary constraints. Dhar subsequently produced the films under his B62 Studios banner which includes the critically acclaimed political film Article 370 (2024) and the horror thriller Baramulla (2025); in which he also served a co-writer of the films.
Widespread recognition with Dhurandhar (2025—present)
On 5 December 2025, Dhar's second directorial, Dhurandhar, a spy thriller, was released, featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal, produced by his B62 Studios and Jio Studios. His filmmaking was well received, critics praising the ensemble cast performance, direction, cinematography, action sequences, soundtrack, world building and production values, while criticism was directed for mixing fact and fiction. Dhurandhar emerged as a major commercial success at the box office, becoming the 4th Hindi film to cross ₹1,000 crore worldwide. It grossed over ₹1350 crore worldwide and ranks 4th highest grossing Indian films of all time, 2nd highest grossing Hindi film, the highest grossing Hindi films in India and the highest grossing Adult-certified Indian film. On 7 January 2026, the film surpassed Pushpa 2: The Rule and became the highest-grossing film in Hindi domestic net collections. Thus, it became the highest grosser in Hindi language alone and also the most successful Bollywood film post-COVID. Originally Dhurandhar conceived as a single film, Dhar later opted for a two-part release because of the film's length, the sequel being named Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge was released on 19 March 2026, only after 3 and half months of first installment release. Like it's predecessor, it received praise for cast performance, technical aspects, musical score, Dhar's direction and world building, but criticism for mixing fact and fiction and its alleged nationalist propaganda. Nevertheless, the film achieved significant commercial success, exceeding the ₹1000 crore mark within a week and becoming the 5th Hindi film to do so. Dhar became only the second Indian director after S. S. Rajamouli to direct two ₹1000 crore films.
Filmmaking and reception
Aditya Dhar
Dhar at 65th Filmfare Awards in 2020
Observers have noted Dhar's cinematic techniques and storytelling ambition, noting that his film's scale, set design, realistic action sequences and structural narrative style in chapters often leads the film. His films embody restrained patriotism, celebrates national pride without making jingoistic. Dhar's directorial debut, Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) received acclaim for realistic war sequences and emotional quotients. The Guardian reported that the film was described as "patriotic by some and propaganda by others".
His second directorial, a spy action thriller Dhurandhar (2025) received mixed to positive response from the critics. It garnered widespread acclaim for the technical aspects, narratives style, use of music and performances of ensemble cast, and criticism for mixing facts and fiction, while some commentators called it politically propagandic. While several other commentators and industry figures such as Ram Gopal Varma and Sandeep Reddy Vanga have praised Dhar's ability to craft high-voltage sequences and layered character portrayals that feel both immersive and emotionally charged, suggesting that Dhar combines a commercial sensibility with attention to detail and thematic coherence. Anurag Kashyap applauded Dhar's filmmaking and execution and called Dhurandhar a "courageous mainstream film", comparing it to other spy thrillers such as The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. He found some dialogues to be propagandistic but called it Dhar's politics.
Filmography
Film credits
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Director</th><th>Writer</th><th>Producer</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2009</td><td>Boond</td><td>Associate director</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>Short film</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>Aakrosh</td><td>No</td><td>Dialogues</td><td>No</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Tezz</td><td>No</td><td>Dialogues</td><td>No</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Uri: The Surgical Strike</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td><td>Directorial debut</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Article 370</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Dhoom Dhaam</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Released on Netflix</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Baramulla</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dhurandhar</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Dhurandhar: The Revenge</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Discography
As lyricist
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Film</th><th>Title</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2006</td><td>Kabul Express</td><td>"Kabul Fiza"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"Banjar"</td></tr><tr><td>"Keh Raha Mera Dil"</td></tr><tr><td>"Yeh Main Aaya Kahaan Hoon"</td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>Play it Loud (Album)</td><td>All songs</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>Haal-e-Dil</td><td>"Rang"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"Khwahish"</td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Daddy Cool</td><td>All songs</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Phhir</td><td>4 songs</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Awards and nominations
Aditya Dhar
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Category</th><th>Work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2019</td><td>66th National Film Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Uri: The Surgical Strike</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jagran Film Festival</td><td>Best Debut Director</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>26th Screen Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Most Promising Debut Director</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>65th Filmfare Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Debut Director</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Zee Cine Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Most Promising Director</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>21st IIFA Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Story</td><td>Nominated</td></tr></tbody></table>