# Nitesh Tiwari
**Nitesh Tiwari** is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer known for the wrestling biographical sports drama *Dangal* (2016) and for directing the two-part epic *Ramayana*.[1](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1) He came to filmmaking from an engineering degree and an 18-year advertising career, and made his directorial debut co-directing *Chillar Party* (2011), which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film.[2](https://acr.iitbombay.org/awards/mr-nitesh-tiwari-3/) • [1](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh; sources differ on the birth year, 1973 (TV9 Hindi) or 1972 (Prime Video)[3](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/ramayana-director-nitesh-tiwari-iit-graduate-national-award-winning-filmmaker-success-story-3865943.html) • [1](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1) |
| Education | B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering, IIT Bombay, 1996[2](https://acr.iitbombay.org/awards/mr-nitesh-tiwari-3/) |
| Advertising career | 18 years: four at FCB ULKA, three at Lowe Lintas, eleven at Leo Burnett, ending as Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Mumbai[2](https://acr.iitbombay.org/awards/mr-nitesh-tiwari-3/) |
| Breakthrough | *Dangal* (2016), scripted and directed by Tiwari; collected over ₹20 billion (₹2,000 crore; US$280 million), more than ₹12 billion (₹1,200 crore) from China[4](https://buzzmelt.com/person/nitesh-tiwari) |
| Major awards | National Film Award for Best Children's Film for *Chillar Party*; Filmfare Award for Best Director at the 62nd Filmfare Awards for *Dangal*[1](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1) |
| Current project | *Ramayana: Part 1*, scheduled for Diwali 2026, with *Ramayana: Part 2* to follow during Diwali 2027[5](https://epaper.gorkhapatraonline.com/uploads/file/2026/4/risingnepal/2026-04-03-12-10-37-TRN-03Apr-01.pdf) |
| Family | Married to Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, his colleague and creative director at Leo Burnett and herself a film director, producer, and writer[1](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1) |
## Education and advertising career
Tiwari was born in Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh, and has said he lived in Bhopal for three years as well.[3](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/ramayana-director-nitesh-tiwari-iit-graduate-national-award-winning-filmmaker-success-story-3865943.html) • [6](https://indiandownunder.com.au/2017/08/i-want-to-make-films-that-touch-my-heart-nitesh-tiwari-director-of-dangal/) He graduated from [IIT Bombay](https://www.edgepedia.org/iit-bombay) in 1996 with a B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering.[2](https://acr.iitbombay.org/awards/mr-nitesh-tiwari-3/) He has said he never planned to be a filmmaker; writing began during his time at IIT Bombay, where he found a strong extracurricular culture of dramatics, one-act plays in English, Hindi, and Marathi, and hostel Sports and Cultural General Championships, the former of which he later drew on for *Chhichhore*.[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/nitesh-tiwari-i-always-make-films-for-the-audience-and-not-for-myself-101664539092738.html)
**From copywriting to films.** After a brief stint with a leading software firm, he moved into advertising for the love of writing, spending four years at FCB ULKA, three at Lowe Lintas, and eleven at [Leo Burnett](https://www.edgepedia.org/leo-burnett), where he rose to Chief Creative Officer in Mumbai.[2](https://acr.iitbombay.org/awards/mr-nitesh-tiwari-3/) He has described himself as a reluctant director: when he and [Vikas Bahl](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikas-bahl) wrote *Chillar Party*, they intended only to write it, but no director would take a film with ten children, one dog, and no stars, so the two writers directed it themselves.[8](https://hindi.webdunia.com/bollywood-celebrity-interview/dangal-nitesh-tiwari-aamir-khan-116121700035_1.html) • [9](https://www.platform-mag.com/film/nitesh-tiwari.html) He left his advertising job for five to six months to make the film without any real directing experience, and has said *Chillar Party* taught him the technical side of directing and how to direct children.[9](https://www.platform-mag.com/film/nitesh-tiwari.html) *Chillar Party* released on 8 July 2011 and won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html) • [4](https://buzzmelt.com/person/nitesh-tiwari)
## Dangal and mainstream success
He followed with the supernatural political drama *Bhoothnath Returns* (11 April 2014), starring [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan), which he says taught him about visual effects and came in handy on *Dangal*, which he says takes visual effects to another level.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html) • [9](https://www.platform-mag.com/film/nitesh-tiwari.html) In the same period he wrote *Kill Dil* (released 14 November 2014) and co-wrote *Nil Battey Sannata* (22 April 2016) and *Bareilly Ki Barfi* (18 August 2017), the latter two directed by his wife [Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashwiny-iyer-tiwari).[11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nitesh-tiwari/filmography/) • [2](https://acr.iitbombay.org/awards/mr-nitesh-tiwari-3/)
*Dangal* (23 December 2016), a biographical sports drama about the Haryana wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters Geeta and Babita, was scripted and directed by Tiwari with co-writers including [Piyush Gupta](https://www.edgepedia.org/piyush-gupta) and Nikhil Mehrotra, with [Aamir Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/aamir-khan) in the lead.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html) • [12](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1511659&lang=2®=3) • [4](https://buzzmelt.com/person/nitesh-tiwari) Tiwari and co-writer Piyush Gupta traveled to Haryana to meet the Phogat family, and conducted an initial ten-day research round in Patiala, Bhiwani, and Bhowali, interviewing the [Phogat sisters](https://www.edgepedia.org/phogat-sisters), Mahavir Singh, his wife, and his cousins.[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/nitesh-tiwari-i-always-make-films-for-the-audience-and-not-for-myself-101664539092738.html) • [9](https://www.platform-mag.com/film/nitesh-tiwari.html) In April 2017 the film was shown at the Beijing International Film Festival, and in June 2017 it played at the BRICS Film Festival's second edition.[1](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1) It became the highest-grossing original Hindi film of all time, collecting over ₹20 billion (₹2,000 crore; US$280 million), of which more than ₹12 billion (₹1,200 crore) came from China, where it emerged as one of the top 20 highest-grossers of all time, and it was also the fifth highest-grossing non-English film.[4](https://buzzmelt.com/person/nitesh-tiwari) • [7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/nitesh-tiwari-i-always-make-films-for-the-audience-and-not-for-myself-101664539092738.html) At the 62nd Filmfare Awards, Tiwari took home Best Director, and the 2017 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne gave him the Telstra People's Choice Award.[1](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1) • [6](https://indiandownunder.com.au/2017/08/i-want-to-make-films-that-touch-my-heart-nitesh-tiwari-director-of-dangal/) At IFFI Goa 2017 he and his writers Piyush Gupta and Nikhil Mehrotra held a master class on the making of the film.[12](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1511659&lang=2®=3)
## Chhichhore, Bawaal, and production work
*Chhichhore* (6 September 2019), an ode to his IIT Bombay days starring [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://www.edgepedia.org/sushant-singh-rajput) and [Shraddha Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/shraddha-kapoor), follows a group of college friends reunited in middle age after an accident.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html) • [13](https://scroll.in/article/936243/portraits-of-indias-people-by-a-flemmish-artist-who-lived-on-the-margins-of-18th-century-calcutta) Tiwari called it his most personal and most challenging screenplay, with seven characters across two merging timelines, and made it on a budget of about ₹700 million (₹70 crore) with an ensemble cast without Dangal's star power.[14](https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/chhichhore-my-most-personal-and-challenging-film-nitesh-tiwari-119090600586_1.html) • [15](https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/director-nitesh-tiwari-on-courting-controversy-in-chhichhore-do-i-stay-true-to-my-story-or-be-politically-correct-1.906775) The film later received the National Film Award for Best Hindi Feature Film.[3](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/ramayana-director-nitesh-tiwari-iit-graduate-national-award-winning-filmmaker-success-story-3865943.html) Reception was mixed: the *Indian Express* reviewer gave it 1.5 stars and called it a disappointing follow-up to *Dangal*, while IMDb lists it at 8.3.[16](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/chhichhore-movie-review-sushant-singh-rajput-shraddha-kapoor-5972072/) • [17](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4318159/)
His next directorial film was *Bawaal* (21 July 2023), starring [Varun Dhawan](https://www.edgepedia.org/varun-dhawan) and [Janhvi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/janhvi-kapoor).[11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nitesh-tiwari/filmography/) In between, he directed the documentary series *Break Point* (2021) about tennis players [Leander Paes](https://www.edgepedia.org/leander-paes) and Mahesh Bhupathi, and worked as a producer on *Tarla* (7 July 2023, directed by Piyush Gupta) and *Tumse Na Ho Payega* (29 September 2023).[17](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4318159/) • [10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html) He also wrote the screenplay for *Panga* (24 January 2020), directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html)
## Ramayana
Tiwari is at the helm of *Ramayana*, a mythological epic released in two parts, whose production involves Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios working together with the eight-time Oscar-winning visual effects studio DNEG, as well as Monster Mind Creations, with Yash providing backing.[5](https://epaper.gorkhapatraonline.com/uploads/file/2026/4/risingnepal/2026-04-03-12-10-37-TRN-03Apr-01.pdf) *Ramayana: Part 1* stars [Ranbir Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/ranbir-kapoor) as Rama, with [Sai Pallavi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sai-pallavi) and Yash; the supporting cast includes Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Sheeba Chaddha, and Indira Krishnan.[5](https://epaper.gorkhapatraonline.com/uploads/file/2026/4/risingnepal/2026-04-03-12-10-37-TRN-03Apr-01.pdf) Part 1 is scheduled for Diwali 2026, with release dates reported as 6 November 2026 (Filmibeat, Bollywood Hungama) and 5 November 2026 (BuzzMelt), and Part 2 for Diwali 2027.[10](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html) • [18](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nitesh-tiwari/filmography/director/) • [4](https://buzzmelt.com/person/nitesh-tiwari) • [5](https://epaper.gorkhapatraonline.com/uploads/file/2026/4/risingnepal/2026-04-03-12-10-37-TRN-03Apr-01.pdf) In October 2026, with release less than a month away, the film's exact India date had not yet been announced, and an overseas release was reported to come three days before Diwali.[19](https://indianexpress.com/about/nitesh-tiwari/) The Indian Express reported that, unlike most Indian films released internationally, the lead cast lip-syncs the English version themselves rather than relying on voice actors.[19](https://indianexpress.com/about/nitesh-tiwari/)
## References
1. [Nitesh Tiwari, Prime Video person page](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Nitesh-Tiwari/amzn1.dv.gti.bb24a250-a3f3-4336-a400-5a736873f90a/ref%3Datv_pp_co_1)
2. [Mr. Nitesh Tiwari, IIT Bombay Alumni Recognition](https://acr.iitbombay.org/awards/mr-nitesh-tiwari-3/)
3. [Ramayana: IIT से इंजीनियरिंग की पढ़ाई, फिर बनाई फिल्में, रामायण के निर्देशक नितेश तिवारी के बारे में सबकुछ, TV9 Hindi](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/ramayana-director-nitesh-tiwari-iit-graduate-national-award-winning-filmmaker-success-story-3865943.html)
4. [Nitesh Tiwari: movies list, upcoming movies & age, BuzzMelt](https://buzzmelt.com/person/nitesh-tiwari)
5. [The Rising Nepal, 3 April 2026, Ramayana production details](https://epaper.gorkhapatraonline.com/uploads/file/2026/4/risingnepal/2026-04-03-12-10-37-TRN-03Apr-01.pdf)
6. [I want to make films that touch my heart: Nitesh Tiwari, The Indian Down Under](https://indiandownunder.com.au/2017/08/i-want-to-make-films-that-touch-my-heart-nitesh-tiwari-director-of-dangal/)
7. [Nitesh Tiwari: 'I always make films for the audience and not for myself', Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/nitesh-tiwari-i-always-make-films-for-the-audience-and-not-for-myself-101664539092738.html)
8. [दंगल और सुल्तान में दूर-दूर तक समानता नहीं: नितेश तिवारी, Webdunia Hindi](https://hindi.webdunia.com/bollywood-celebrity-interview/dangal-nitesh-tiwari-aamir-khan-116121700035_1.html)
9. [Nitesh Tiwari, Director, Dangal, Platform Magazine](https://www.platform-mag.com/film/nitesh-tiwari.html)
10. [Nitesh Tiwari Upcoming Movies and Filmography, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/nitesh-tiwari/upcoming-movies.html)
11. [Nitesh Tiwari Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nitesh-tiwari/filmography/)
12. [नीतेश तिवारी की अगुआई में 'टीम दंगल' का आईएफएफआई 2017 में पाठशाला, Press Information Bureau](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1511659&lang=2®=3)
13. ['Chhichhore' director Nitesh Tiwari: 'Closest to my heart', Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/article/936243/portraits-of-indias-people-by-a-flemmish-artist-who-lived-on-the-margins-of-18th-century-calcutta)
14. ['Chhichhore' my most personal and challenging film: Nitesh Tiwari, Business Standard](https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/chhichhore-my-most-personal-and-challenging-film-nitesh-tiwari-119090600586_1.html)
15. [Director Nitesh Tiwari on courting controversy in 'Chhichhore', The National](https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/director-nitesh-tiwari-on-courting-controversy-in-chhichhore-do-i-stay-true-to-my-story-or-be-politically-correct-1.906775)
16. [Chhichhore movie review: A disappointing fare, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/chhichhore-movie-review-sushant-singh-rajput-shraddha-kapoor-5972072/)
17. [Nitesh Tiwari, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4318159/)
18. [Nitesh Tiwari Filmography (Director), Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nitesh-tiwari/filmography/director/)
19. [Nitesh Tiwari news, The Indian Express topic page](https://indianexpress.com/about/nitesh-tiwari/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Indian and South Asian film directors › Hindi cinema directors › Contemporary Hindi directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license