The buzz around Ayan Mukerji is hitting a fever pitch. His new film, War 2, just exploded into theaters yesterday, August 14. Today, August 15, marks his birthday. Talk about a busy celebration! Ayan is definitely a filmmaker who marches to his own drum, crafting stories at his own pace.
This action-packed film, War 2, stars big names like Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR. It’s only Ayan’s fourth movie as a director. And here’s a fun fact: it’s his first time directing a movie without Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. Most directors would have a longer list of films by now, but Ayan works in a truly unique way.
Ayan’s connection to movies runs deep in his blood. He was born in Kolkata on August 15, 1983, into the well-known Mukerji-Samarth film family. His father was the late actor Deb Mukerji. Deb was the brother of Shomu Mukerji, who is the father of actresses Kajol and Tanisha. This makes Ayan and Kajol cousins. Rani Mukerji is also his cousin. You could say he inherited a natural knack for cinema, and it shows in his work.
His passion for filmmaking was so strong that Ayan left college to chase his dreams. He started his career as an assistant director. His first big break came in 2004, working with his brother-in-law, Ashutosh Gowariker, on the film Swades, starring Shah Rukh Khan. Ayan also assisted Karan Johar on his movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. After learning the ropes, he decided it was time to step into the director’s chair himself.
Ayan’s debut as a director was with the 2009 film Wake Up Sid. Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma played the main roles. The movie was a hit right away, getting a lot of attention and praise from audiences. Interestingly, Ranbir Kapoor continued to be his leading man in Ayan’s next two films, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Brahmastra.
Looking at his career from 2009 to 2025, Ayan has been in the industry for 16 years. Yet, he has only directed four films. Other directors might have made many more movies in that time. But Ayan chooses to do things differently. He dedicates himself fully to each project. He takes his time to create the entire world of the story. He works on every character and every little detail with immense care. This careful approach is why his first three films were big hits and loved by audiences.
Ayan Mukerji and Ranbir Kapoor are not just professional colleagues; they are very close friends. Their friendship is so strong that Ayan played a big part in some of Ranbir’s most important life decisions, including his marriage. As mentioned, Ayan directed Ranbir in three films. His third film, Brahmastra, was a true labor of love. It took Ayan about 10 years to bring it to life, with five years dedicated to the actual shooting.
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starred as the leads in Brahmastra. It was during the filming of this movie that their love story began. Alia has openly shared that she had a crush on Ranbir for a long time. But their meeting and eventual dating happened because of Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra. Ranbir and Alia tied the knot in 2022. They are now happy parents to their daughter, Raha.
