Initial struggles and directorial debut (1994–2006)

Ali began his career directing TV programs including Kurukshetra for Zee TV and Imtihaan for Doordarshan.^[16] His initial work also includes a forty-five-minute slot telefilm for series Rishtey on Zee TV;^[17] he later made the story into a feature film named Highway. He moved on to Bollywood films. In 2005, he made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy Socha Na Tha starring Abhay Deol and Ayesha Takia. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, but emerged as a commercial failure at the box office.^[18][19] He quoted, later in a talk, that it took him three years to make the film.^[20]

Widespread success (2007–2015)

His second directorial venture, the romantic comedy Jab We Met starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor, emerged as a major critical and commercial success.^[21][22] The film earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue, in addition to his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. It has been consistently ranked as one of the most popular romantic films of Bollywood.^[23][24]

His next film, the romantic comedy-drama Love Aaj Kal starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, emerged as his biggest commercial success to date.^[25][26] The film received widespread critical acclaim, earning Ali his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director.^[27][28] It has gone to achieve cult status, and has been acclaimed for its depiction of the feeling of pure love which never changes, although the perspective of realizing one's soulmate changes over time.^[29][30]

Ali's fourth directorial venture, the musical romantic drama Rockstar starring Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri, also emerged as a major commercial success at the box office and received widespread critical acclaim with high praise for Ali's direction, Kapoor's performance and A. R. Rahman's music.^[31][32] The film earned him his third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. It has now achieved cult status, and also has been frequently ranked in the lists of most iconic musical romances of Bollywood.^[33][34]

Post Rockstar, Ali penned the story and screenplay for the romantic comedy-drama Cocktail (2012), directed by Homi Adajania, starring Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan and Diana Penty in lead roles. The film received positive reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as a commercial success at the box office.^[35][36]

Ali founded his film production company, Window Seat Films in 2013, whose first release was the road drama Highway (2014). Starring Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda, the film was highly appreciated by critics upon release, and also emerged as a commercial success at the box office.^[37][38] The film has been widely credited as one of Bollywood's best films depicting mental disorders (in this case, Stockholm syndrome).^[39][40]

His next directorial venture, the coming-of-age romantic drama Tamasha (2015), starred Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. Despite major hype, the film emerged as an mediocre commercial success, but received positive reviews with high praises for Kapoor's performance upon release;^[41][42] however, it has gone on to achieve cult status for its subject and has also been recognised as one of Ali's best films.^[43][44]

Career decline (2017–2023)

His next directorial, the romantic comedy Jab Harry Met Sejal starring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma in lead roles, was released on 4 August 2017. The film released to mixed-to-negative reviews, and emerged as a commercial failure at the box office.^[45][46]

He then wrote the screenplay for his brother Sajid Ali's romance film Laila Majnu (2018), starring newcomers Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri in lead roles. The film received mixed reviews upon release, and emerged as a commercial disaster at the box office.^[47][48]

After a gap of three years, his next directorial venture was the romantic drama Love Aaj Kal, starring Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan in lead roles. The film was the spiritual successor to Love Aaj Kal (2009), starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, also directed by Ali. The film, which released on 14 February 2020, received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, and emerged as a commercial failure at the box office.^[49][50]

Comeback (2024–present)

In his first film collaboration with Netflix, Ali directed Amar Singh Chamkila, a biopic on the assassinated Punjabi musician Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in lead roles.^[51][52]The film was released on 12th April 2024 to critical acclaim, while many considered it as a resurgence to Ali's career.^[53]

Films

Acting credits

Television

Filmfare Awards

The Filmfare Awards are presented annually by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi cinema.

International Indian Film Academy Awards

The International Indian Film Academy Awards (shortened as IIFA) is an annual international event organised by the Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. to honour excellence in the Hindi cinema.

Producers Guild Film Awards

The Producers Guild Film Awards (previously known as the Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards) is an annual event organised by the Film Producers Guild of India.

Screen Awards

The Screen Awards are presented annually by Indian Express Limited to honour excellence in Hindi cinema.

Other awards