But, it’s not so bad anymore. 

People are welcoming good content and craft with open arms. The very fact that now the name of a director has the potential to pull an audience proves just how far good stories and especially, good filmmakers have come. 

A big star guarantees blockbuster openings, yes, but slowly, directors are getting there too. In fact, in the recent past we’ve seen various films that have worked purely because of the director’s creative genius, without the backing of any major superstar! 

These 12 films prove that finally, we’re in an age where the director is indeed the hero of the film:

1. Highway – Directed by Imtiaz Ali

Highway came right after Alia Bhatt’s Student Of The Year and it redefined our opinion about her as an actress. 

However, it wasn’t Alia that drove people to the theatres. They went to watch the film only because of their unconditional love for Imtiaz Ali’s brand of cinema. The film strengthened our belief in the director and gave the industry a budding young actress.

2. Queen – Directed by Vikas Bahl

Queen made us look at women-centric films in a different light. 

Kangana gave her best performance till-date and Vikas Bahl made a film that beautifully represented the strength of a woman. A light-hearted film, with deep undertones of empowerment and independence, Queen was a story that was told exceptionally well. 

The actors’ brilliant performances only enhanced the effect of the film on the audience.

3. Neerja – Directed by Ram Madhvani

Had someone made a film banking on just Sonam Kapoor’s stardom a couple of years back, it would’ve looked like a bad idea. But Ram Madhvani returned to film making after 15 long years and changed this popular opinion for good. 

With a strong story line, tight screenplay and a clear vision, Neerja came to life on the celluloid, only to leave our hearts warm and eyes with tears. 

4. Dum Laga Ke Haisha – Directed by Sharat Katariya

The sleeper hit of 2015, Dum Laga Ke Haisha struck a chord with everyone who watched it. 

A heartfelt story told with simplicity, the film was directed by Sharat Katariya who’d been the writer for many hit films including Bheja Fry and Titli in the past. 

Here was a film made without the usual bankable stars but still managed to launch itself into the limelight.

5. Lootera – Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane

Lootera was not everyone’s cup of tea. Either people loved it or they hated it. And for those who loved it, they believed in the slow paced reveal of the film. 

A story that was set in the past, Vikramaditya Motwane beautifully captured the essence of the simpler times while showcasing the changing dynamics of the characters. It was a boon in disguise for both Ranveer and Sonakshi, who were relatively new back then.

6. Vicky Donor – Directed by Shoojit Sircar

Not only did Vicky Donor launch Ayushmann Khurrana into the league of promising actors, it ended up re-introducing Shoojit Sircar to the audience 7 years after his last film. 

The film dared to address a subject that nobody had imagined and Sircar did it with a heavy sprinkling of quirk and freshness.

7. Khosla Ka Ghosla – Directed by Dibakar Banerjee

One of the biggest problems in Bollywood is that stardom overrides talent. We have a bunch of great actors who are not necessarily great stars. Khosla Ka Ghosla was a film with a heavy-on-talent cast, but no big star. Yet, the film still managed to pull in a huge crowd because of great direction and refreshing content. 

Dibakar Banerjee made his entry in Bollywood as a director with this film and created a place for himself, soon after Khosla Ka Ghosla’s release.

8. Gangs of Wasseypur – Directed by Anurag Kashyap

As far as Anurag Kashyap is concerned, almost all of his films run on the film maker’s brand of cinema. But if one has to make a choice, GOW stands out the most. 

A movie that many directors would fear to attempt, Kashyap created the biggest cult film of recent times. Shot in real locations, with actors who made difficult characters come to life, Anurag Kashyap redefined the expectations that a cinema-goer held from Bollywood.

9. A Wednesday! – Directed by Neeraj Pandey

This movie came at a time when we as an audience, we weren’t welcoming of small-budget films. 

However, A Wednesday! kept us on the edge of our seats with a gripping and believable story line. It is hard to believe that this film was shot in just 28 days and that is what proves the mettle of the director. 

Neeraj Pandey’s clarity of thought and technique as a director was completely bang on.

10. Shaitan – Directed by Bejoy Nambiar

When Shaitan’s promotions began, it looked like a film that promised great music. 

But that wasn’t all. The film went on to impress the audience beyond their expectations. Bejoy Nambiar carefully brought to life a story that could’ve easily gone wrong. From the camera techniques to the story’s flow, Nambiar put all his efforts into creating a hard-hitting film that was struggling to come to life since two long years.

11. Talvar – Directed by Meghna Gulzar

Based on the infamous 2008 Noida double-murder case, Meghna Gulzar delicately brought to light the complexities of one of the most talked about crime cases in recent times. 

While it was the lesser-known nitty-gritties of the case that attracted many to go for the film, it was the direction that left the impact on on our minds. The film didn’t take any sides but still manages to push the film maker’s thought across. 

Talvar was not overtly dramatized to appeal to the general Bollywood-loving audience and that’s where it won the game.

12. The Lunchbox – Directed by Ritesh Batra 

What started as research for a documentary on the dabbawallas of Mumbai, turned into a script for a full-fledged film that went on to become the biggest sleeper hits of recent times. 

Ritesh Batra, who had earlier made only short films, tried his hand at a feature film which was super rich with content. And his outstanding direction only enhanced the performances of his outstanding actors. 

We have finally started to believe in the director’s brand of films. It’s a good time for cinema!