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Famous Indian cinema director Priyadarshan was born on 30 January 1957 in Kerala. In his career, he has made great films in many genres like comedy, drama, action, and thriller. Priyadarshan is known for his remarkable contribution to Hindi and Malayalam cinema. His films are not only entertaining but also make the audience think. On the occasion of his birthday, let us know about his film journey, his achievements and his famous films.
Priyadarshan's personal life
His full name is Priyadarshan Sharan. His father was a librarian, due to which Priyadarshan had a keen interest in books and stories since childhood. He studied at Kerala University, where he studied English Literature.
Marriage and family
Priyadarshan was married to famous Malayalam actress Lissy. Lissy was a well-known actress of the 1980s and 90s. The two got married in 1990 and have two children—Kalyan Priyadarshan and Siddhi Priyadarshan. Their son Kaliyan Priyadarshan is working as an art director and actor in the South film industry, while their daughter Siddhi has studied filmmaking and designing.
Divorce and disputes
Priyadarshan and Lizzie's marriage lasted for about 24 years, but in 2014, both got divorced. The news of their divorce made a lot of headlines in the film industry. However, both decided to separate by mutual consent and gave priority to raising children
Early life and career beginnings
Priyadarshan was inclined towards films since childhood. He started taking interest in writing during his studies and soon made his place in the Malayalam film industry. He started his directorial career in the 1980s and soon became one of the biggest directors of Malayalam cinema.
Journey from Malayalam cinema to Bollywood
Priyadarshan started directing in 1984 with the Malayalam film 'Poochakkoru Mookkuthi'. After this, he gave many superhit Malayalam films, including films like 'Chithram' (1988), 'Kilukkam' (1991), and 'Thenmavin Kombath' (1994). In the late 1990s, Priyadarshan turned to Bollywood and made a splash here too with his direction. He won the hearts of the audience by making Hindi remakes of his Malayalam films. His first Hindi film was 'Gardish' (1993), which was highly appreciated. But he got real recognition in the 2000s.
Superhit movies in Bollywood
Priyadarshan gave many hit films in Bollywood, especially in the comedy genre. His films still tickle people. Let's take a look at some of his most successful Hindi films:
1. Hera Pheri (2000)
One of Priyadarshan's most famous films is 'Hera Pheri'. This film was made with the trio of Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty and is still counted among the best comedy films of Hindi cinema.
2. Hungama (2003)
This film was a Hindi remake of the Malayalam film 'Poochakkoru Mookkuthi'. The brilliant comedy of Paresh Rawal, Akshay Khanna, Aftab Shivdasani and Rimi Sen made it a cult film.
3. Garam Masala (2005)
This Akshay Kumar and John Abraham starrer was a remake of Priyadarshan's Malayalam film 'Boeing Boeing'. The comic timing and funny story of this film made it a superhit.
4. Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)
Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan and Shiney Ahuja starrer 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' was a psychological thriller-comedy that scared and made people laugh. This film was a remake of the Malayalam film 'Manichitrathazhu' and even today this film remains a favorite of the people.
5. De Dana Dan (2009)
Priyadarshan once again made the audience laugh with his comedy magic. The trio of Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty and Paresh Rawal rocked this film.
Upcoming Movie
Priyadarshan's upcoming horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla will be a treat for movie lovers, especially those who are fans of Hindi films of the 90s and early 2000s. Tabu and Paresh Rawal are part of the film. It is currently being shot in Rajasthan. For those who don't know, Priyadarshan also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film for his period epic 'Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea' in 2019. In 2012, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, for his contribution to the arts
Her last film is "Appatha" a Tamil film directed by Priyadarshan, which was released in 2023. This film was the 700th film of veteran actress Urvashi's career and it received a lot of appreciation. At the same time, her last release in Bollywood is Hungama 2. It was released in the year 2021.
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