Regional directors making a foray in Bollywood

It is said that cinema has no boundaries. And talent from across various regional film industries periodically migrates to the coveted destination of Bollywood. The Hindi filmdom not only allows one to enjoy immense visibility, but also to reach out to a wider audience. Adding his name to the long list of regional talent that is dabbling in mainstream Hindi films is Marathi director-screenwriter Ravi Jadhav, who has the National Award-winning Natarang (2010) and critically acclaimed films like Balgandharva (2011) and Balak Palak (2012) to his credit. Jadhav has also successfully delivered in the commercial film genre with Time Pass (2014) and its sequel this year. He is now set to step into the world of Bollywood with an unt tled project. The film was announced in May this year and is likely to star Jadhav's friend, actor-producer Riteish Deshmukh.

Taking this into consideration, hitlist pulls out a list of some regional directors who are set to make their directorial debut in Bollywood soon...

Paresh Mokashi

Bolly debut: Bhaykatha Heer Ranjha Ki
Lowdown: After earning acclaim within the country and abroad for his Marathi films Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) and Elizabeth Ekadashi (2014), the director has started working on his maiden Hindi project starring newcomers. Contrary to the title, the film will largely be a political satire and revolve around the lives of common people residing in the country's border areas. It will explore how such people are labelled ‘terrorists' when they stray into restricted areas around the border by mistake.

Rajesh Pillai

Bolly debut: Traffic
Lowdown: The Malayalam director has decided to make his eponymous 2011 film in Hindi with Manoj Bajpayee playing the protagonist - a traffic cop. It is centered on a brain-dead man whose kin agree to donate his heart to a needy patient. The harvested heart, however, has to be transported 150 kilometres away in less than two hours during peak traffic hours. It is said to be based on a real life incident that took place in Chennai. The film, which has been already shot after facing several casting and production issues, also features Jimmy Sheirgill and Divya Dutta. It has also been made in Kannada and Tamil.

Umesh Kulkarni

Bolly debut: Untitled film
Lowdown: He won a National Award for his 2011 film Deool after which he openly expressed his desire to venture into Bollywood. In an interview, he had said that he wishes to make either a love story or a period drama. He is already working on a script and feels that the subject will suit a Hindi film. "It (Hindi film) was never my destination, but I will make a Hindi film. But that is not because I feel that is my final goal. I definitely like to make Marathi films. But there are certain subjects that I would like to explore in Hindi as I feel it is a better language for them," the alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India had been quoted as saying.

Riingo Banerjee

Bolly debut: Luv's Story
Lowdown: The Bengali director is providing a launchpad to Pakistani model-turned-actor Shahroz Sabzwari in his first Hindi film which will also star Zarina Wahab, Riya Sen and Bidita Bag amongst others. The film focuses on three friends, who live in an orphanage and are caught up in a murder mystery. It is set in Kalimpong (West Bengal) and is yet to secure a release date.

Prakash Raj

Bolly debut: Untitled
Lowdown: After becoming one of Bollywood's "most-wanted" villains and popular for his comic timing, Prakash has decided to don the role of a director in the Hindi film industry. He has helmed quite a few films down South and has a good behind-the-camera experience. If rumours are to be believed, he will be remaking one of his Telugu films, Ulavacharu Biryani (2014) in Hindi. He himself starred in the original film, but for the Hindi version, he has apparently approached Nana Patekar, who seems to have shown interest in the script.