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Kabir Khan
Occupation:Director • Screenplay • Writer • Dialogue Writer • Producer
Born:July 21, 1971
Birthplace:Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Spouse:Mini Mathur
Children:2
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About
Kabir Khan is an Indian film director, screenwriter and a cinematographer who primarily works in Bollywood. Known for directing the unconventional Kabul Express (2006), which received critical and commercial acclaim, Kabir has directed movies such as New York (2009) and Ek Tha Tiger (2012), and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)

Early Life
Kabir was born on 21 July 1971 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh to a Muslim father, Rasheeduddin Khan, who was one of the founding professors of Jawahar Lal Nehru University, and a Hindu mother Leelaand . He completed his studies from Kirorimal College of Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi.

Personal Life
Kabir is married to popular TV actress and host Mini Mathur and the couple has two children Vivaan and Siarah.

Movie Career
As a Director
Kabir started his career at the age of 25 as a film cinematographer and made few documentaries like `Beyond The Himalayas`, which was aired over Discovery Channel and directed by Gautam Ghose. His first documentary film as director was `The Forgotten Army`, which is based on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose`s Azad Hind Fauj covering him and his life. In 2001, Kabir made a few more successful documentary films including "The Titanic Sinks in Kabul" and "Taliban years and beyond".

After finding success with documentaries, Kabir made Bollywood debut with the movie Kabul Express in 2006 which was awarded the `Indira Gandhi Award` for Best First Film of a Director. The movie stirred controversy in Afghanistan after the Afghan Ministry of Culture protested over the racist portrayal of the ethnic minority of the country.

This was followed by New York (2009) starring John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and Katrina Kaif which turned out to be a big hit. The movie was screened as the `opening movie` at the 33rd International Cairo Film Festival and received favorable reviews from several critics.

In 2012, Kabir directed the movie Ek Tha Tiger starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles . The movie that revolves around an Indian spy who falls in love with a Pakistani spy, garnered mixed reviews at the box office. In 2015, he teamed up with Salman Khan once again to make Bajrangi Bhaijaan which also stars Kareena Kapoor. This movie became the second highest grossing movie in the history of Indian cinema at the time of its release. Amongst the many awards that it won, the movie also bagged the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. He next directed the action thriller Phantom starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif. The movie based on a story that unfolds in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks. Kabir`s 2017 release includes the movie Tubelight which is an Indian historical war drama, co-produced by Salman Khan. This movie is based on 1962 Sino-Indian War starring Salman Khan in the lead role who plays an Indian who falls in love with a girl from China. He went on to write, direct, and produce the web series The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye (2020). He then returned to the silver screen with 83 (2021), for which he was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Director. After that, his next project was Chandu Champion (2024), based on the life and achievements of the boxer turned Paralympic gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar played by Kartik Aaryan.

Peers & More
Nishikant Kamat
Director
Rajkumar Hirani
Director
Rahul Dholakia
Director
Shimit Amin
Director
Family
Mini Mathur
Spouse
Vivaan Khan
Son
Sanya Khan
Daughter
Leela
Mother
Rasheeduddin Khan
Father
Popular Movies
View All
My Melbourne
Chandu Champion
83
Tubelight
Phantom
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Ek Tha Tiger
New York
Kabul Express
Kabul Express

Did You Know? (5)

  • A BTS video of Chandu Champion released by producers Nadiadwala Grandsons reveals how the team rehearsed for four days to get an eight-minute single-shot war sequence in `one take`.
  • Kabir Khan, director of Chandu Champion says that his casting decisions are never been based on what actors have already done and he chose Kartik Aaryan because he had all the elements needed for Chandu Champion.
  • Kabir Khan had to obtain an NOC from the makers of the Kannada film Tubelight, since they were the original ones to own the rights to the title.
  • After auditioning 1000 children, the six-year-old Matin Rey Tangu was chosen by Kabir Khan to be a part of the movie.
  • Akshay Kumar was the initial choice to play Salman Khan's brother in Tubelight. However, Kabir Khan decided against it and cast Sohail Khan since he thought that it would be easier for the real-life brothers to create that kind of camaraderie on screen.
  • Personal Quotes (5)

  • "When I used to watch Hindi films, I would struggle with the fact that our cinema was set in La-la land, with no social or political context. So I decided that whenever I make a film, I'll put some context about what's happening. "
  • " I don't know whether I've arrived, I'm just happy the success is allowing me to make the films I want to and push boundaries. "
  • "My background is documentaries but I want to make commercial films , so my struggle has always been to strike the right balance. With Bajrangi Bhaijaan, I knew I cracked it. "
  • " I feel strongly about unity, secularism and people-to-people friendship."
  • "I'm a product of a mixed marriage. Growing up, I saw the celebration of both cultures. "