Ayan Mukerji is a Hindi writer, director, and producer, born on August 15, 1983, in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. Ayan comes from a long line of filmmakers and actors, including Rani Mukherji, Kajol, and Brother-in-law Ashutosh Gowariker.  He started his career as an assistant director to Gowariker in the classic ‘Swades’ (2004). He also contributed to the screenplay. In 2009, Ayan wrote and directed ‘Wake Up Sid’,  a coming-of-age drama starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma in leading roles. The film was a commercial and critical success and earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director. Ayan’s second film was also well-received. ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, which he wrote and directed, starred Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in a comedy-drama. His next project was the big budget fantasy ‘Brahmastra:  Shiva’ (2022), which opened to mixed reviews.  The film is part one of a trilogy, written and directed by Ayan and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan. Despite its reviews, it became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2022. Ayan is currently filming ‘War 2’, which will star Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr. and Kiara Advani.