Siddharth Raj Anand is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, who launched his production house Marflix, under which he directed
Fighter (2024). His father was Bittu Anand, the producer of the vigilante action film Shahenshah (1988). His paternal grandfather Inder Raj Anand was a screenplay and dialogue writer for films like Aag (1948), Aah (1953), Anari (1959) and Sangam (1963). Actor-director Tinnu Anand is his uncle.
After working as an assistant director on the comedy Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001) and the coming-of-age romantic comedy Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002), Anand began his career in films as the screenplay co-writer, executive producer, and associate director for the romantic comedy Hum Tum (2004).
He made his directorial debut with Yash Raj Films` romantic comedy-drama Salaam Namaste (2005), starring Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta in lead roles. The film received positive reviews from critics upon release, with major praise directed towards its bold storyline. It emerged as the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year, and the highest-grossing Indian film of the year in overseas markets.
He next wrote and directed the sports family drama Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007). The film opened to mixed reviews from critics, but emerged as a moderate commercial success. He also directed the romantic comedy
Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), starring Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone and Minissha Lamba in lead roles. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, ranking as the eighth-highest-grossing Indian film of the year. His fourth directorial venture was the romantic comedy-drama
Anjaana Anjaani (2010). The film received positive reviews for its novel concept, soundtrack and cast performances.
In 2014, Anand forayed into directing action films, with his first venture being the action comedy
Bang Bang (2014) starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. Bang Bang was his first film to enter the coveted Rs. 100 Crore Club. A remake of the American film Knight and Day (2010), the film opened to mixed reviews from critics.
He followed Bang Bang with the action film
War (2019), a part of the YRF Spy Universe, War was the first film to be shot in the Arctic Circle. It emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film of the year and the 17th highest-grossing Indian film of all time. After receiving positive talk from War, Anand decided to convert the film into a franchise leading to Aditya Chopra and Anand to begin developing the YRF Spy Universe. Anand developed two projects in the past and will develop one more project titled Tiger vs Pathaan.
His seventh film was the action-thriller
Pathaan (2023), starring Shah Rukh Khan, Padukone and John Abraham in lead roles, and also a part of the same universe. This film marked Khan`s comeback film after a four-year hiatus. With Pathaan, Anand has set records including delivering the all-time highest-grossing Bollywood film net domestically and the second worldwide highest-grossing Bollywood film (excluding China), highest-grossing Hindi film domestically, highest-grossing YRF`s Spy Universe film, the fastest Hindi movie to gross 500+ crore, and highest single-day collection for any Indian film.
Anand became the only Hindi film director to have delivered five 50+ crore net box office days and five 100+ crore worldwide gross box office days. Pathaan also established a record of having the highest opening day collection made by a Bollywood movie in India over 57 crores net domestically in India and over 106 crores worldwide. Pathaan has earned over 1058 Crores worldwide, thus entering the 1000 Crore Club Worldwide, and over 543 crores net domestically in India thus entering the 500 Crore Club in India/Bollywood.
He then directed the aerial action film Fighter (2024), which served as the first film in a planned aerial action franchise. Anand forayed into production with Fighter (2024) and founded Marflix, a production house dedicated to action films in India.
He is married to Mamta Bhatia Anand and has a son, Ranveer.