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These 10 Indian Actor-Director Duos Are What Cinematic Dreams Are Made of
The Hollywood Reporter India put together a wishlist of actor-director pairs whose creative unions would be like matches made in cinematic heaven.
Critics often get a bad rap for being too harsh, accused of hating on everything. However, critiquing and criticism are more occupational hazards than a penchant for hatred. Critics are primarily movie lovers. And as incurable cinephiles, they are often fuelled by their desires to see the perfect cast paired with an ideal director, to craft a film that will sweep them off their feet. So, when the team at The Hollywood Reporter India got together, the conversation quickly turned to some dream teams everyone might enjoy seeing on screen. After countless meetings and Zoom calls, here’s what the wishlist looks like.
In no particular order, below are The Hollywood Reporter India’s top picks.
Tabu and Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Opulent, layered, heart-wrenching. These words barely capture the magic one imagines from this pairing. Bhansali, the master of emotional grandeur, and Tabu, with her ability to convey a universe of pain with a single look, would likely devastate the audience — royally, of course — but it would definitely be worth it. Tabu in a Bhansali period piece? Unstoppable.
Deepika Padukone and Vishal Bhardwaj
Powerhouse collaborations need little explanation, and this duo has the makings of something profound. Bhardwaj’s gritty worlds deserve Padukone’s elegance to counterbalance the palette. We want Padukone in a revenge drama — the nuance of Ishqiya (2010) with the steely grace of Padmavati from Padmaavat (2018). Imagine the intensity, the depth, and the storm of emotions they'd bring.
Ranveer Singh and Atlee
Singh’s electric energy deserves a director who knows how to channel it on a massive scale. Enter Atlee, the king of larger-than-life heroes. If Simmba (2018) was Singh at his massy best, we imagine this would be twice as electrifying, given Atlee’s signature double role twist (no Cirkus vibes here). We’re thinking epic, high-octane, at least one silver fox Ranveer Singh, and straight-up box-office gold.
Akshay Kumar and Siddharth Anand
It’s time for Kumar to reclaim his action-hero throne, and Anand is just the director to make that happen. Known for crafting slick, stylish action films with depth, Anand could bring out a grittier, more vulnerable side of Kumar. After Pathaan (2023), Anand needs to resurrect the career of another superstar — and break the box-office curse. The audience needs to be reminded why Akshay Kumar is India’s ultimate action star.
Hrithik Roshan and Raj & DK
Raj & DK have a knack for reimagining actors in unexpected roles, and Roshan has been itching to show his versatility. No more spies or con men — the audience wants to see Roshan in a role that pushes his boundaries and surprises them. A women’s swimming-team coach with a dark past? A dentist who goes on a killing spree? Who better than a star ready to take risks, paired with directors who know how to unlock an actor’s full potential?
Varun Dhawan and Vikramaditya Motwane
Varun Dhawan, as the vulnerable softboi in October (2018), demands an encore. Motwane’s sensitive, introspective storytelling is the perfect tool to bring out that tenderness in Dhawan, not only to make one fall in love with his sensitivity, but also to serve as a reminder of his range as an actor.
Ajay Devgn and Shoojit Sircar
Understated but powerful, Devgn and Sircar would together create a film with quiet strength, driven by character rather than spectacle. Remember Rituparno Ghosh’s Raincoat (2004)? Probably not, because people got too busy watching Devgn scale up his one-leg-on-either-motorised-vehicle stunt. However, beneath the action-hero persona lies a brooding, nuanced performer, who first made his presence felt as Vanraj in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). Sircar’s skill for stirring emotion without drowning in dialogue, paired with Devgn’s depth, would create a film that’s gripping, emotional, and worlds away from the bombastic stunts.
Shah Rukh Khan and Shakun Batra
One may have doubts about SRK playing any character that doesn't spotlight the ageless superstar he is, but Dear Zindagi (2016) was ample evidence that urban anonymity and normie zaddies (still) aren't beyond him. And who better than Shakun Batra — the crown prince of contemporary relationship/family dramas — to make that elusive SRK-as-a-dysfunctional-widower movie? Forget a mature love story; imagine him as a lonely middle-aged hero having conversations with his late wife at her grave. Very specific, yes, but it conjures a potent image of a moody hybrid of an Irrfan Khan in The Lunchbox (2013) and an Amitabh Bachchan in Piku (2015).
Vidya Balan and Sriram Raghavan
The question isn't if; it's when. Also, how can one be absolutely sure that this combination doesn't already exist? Because one can swear they are a match made in film-noir heaven. Maybe it's the shared tonal universe of thrillers like Kahaani (2012), Andhadhun (2018) and Merry Christmas (2024). But it'd be better if this collaboration marks a sudden departure for both the actor and the director. Balan can do pretty much anything, so it'd be up to Raghavan to reimagine a genre or three that will push her artistic envelope. How about an unorthodox superhero dramedy in a small Konkani seatown? Remember, you heard it here first.
Kareena Kapoor Khan and Anurag Kashyap
With Kapoor Khan firmly in her Mare of Easttown era — thanks to Jaane Jaan (2023) and The Buckingham Murders — there’s no better moment for her than now to team up with the resident crime-thriller expert, Kashyap. It would be a refreshing detour in Kashyap’s filmography too to work with a star like Kapoor Khan, who effortlessly embodies glamour, gorgeousness and charisma. The collision of her manicured star power and his raw storytelling could deliver something electric.
Bonus: Alia Bhatt and Mani Ratnam
Bhatt, who is essentially Bollywood royalty, shining in a regal period drama that wipes off the... Kalank (2019).