Nitesh Tiwari

Nitesh Tiwari (born May 22, 1973, in Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh) is an Indian filmmaker best known as a Bollywood director, along with work as a screenwriter and lyricist. His storytelling often blends mainstream entertainment with sharp emotional and social beats, helping his films connect with wide family audiences.

Tiwari first drew major attention with his directorial debut, co-directing Chillar Party (2011). The children’s film became a critical success and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film. He followed it with Bhoothnath Returns (2014), a supernatural-tinged political drama that also proved to be a strong box-office performer.

His biggest global breakthrough arrived with Dangal (2016), which he wrote and directed. The film traveled to international showcases including the Beijing International Film Festival and the BRICS festival in 2017, and it grew into one of India’s highest-grossing movies ever—crossing ₹2,000 crore worldwide, with a massive share of revenue coming from China.

Beyond feature films, Tiwari has appeared as himself on popular shows such as Showtime and The Kapil Sharma Show, reflecting his visibility within India’s mainstream entertainment landscape.