Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a highly acclaimed director of the Indian film industry. He adopted the middle name `Leela` as a tribute to his mother, Leela Bhansali. He was born and brought up in Mumbai. He graduated from the prestigious Films and Television Institute of Pune. His directorial debut was with the film Khamoshi which was a huge hit. He has not looked back ever since. His films have won many awards both as commercial successes and critical acclaim.

Career of Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Sanjay Leela Bhansali began his career as an assistant director to Vidhu Vinod Chopra and worked with him in the movie Parinda, 1942: A Love Story and Kareeb. His first directorial was `Khamoshi-The musical`. This movie portrayed a girl`s struggle to communicate with her deaf and dumb parents. Although the movie was a commercial failure, it achieved much critical appreciations. He next directed the movie `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam` starring Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Aishwarya Rai. The movie was a blockbuster hit and won numerous awards, including the Film Fare Awards for best director. His next big budget movie was `Devdas` which starred Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit. The film surfaced as one of the highest grossing movie. The movie has its official entry into the Oscars and was also premiered in the Cannes Film Festival. His next directorial venture was Black starring Rani Mukherjee and Amitabh Bachchan. The movie was selected as the fifth best movie among 10 movies in the year 2005 by Time Magazine.

Bhansali subsequent movie `Saawariya` staring Sonam Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor and Salman Khan failed at the box office. In 2010 Bhansali released `Guzaarish` starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. Apart from directing movies he has also produced and written scripts for movies.

Awards and Honours of Sanjay Leela Bhansali

National Film Awards
2003: National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment - Devdas
2006: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi - Black

Filmfare Awards
1997: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie - Khamoshi: The Musical
2000: Filmfare Best Director Award - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000: Filmfare Best Movie Award - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2003: Filmfare Best Director Award - Devdas
2003: Filmfare Best Movie Award - Devdas
2006: Filmfare Best Director Award - Black
2006: Filmfare Best Movie Award - Black
2006: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie - Black

Apart from these awards Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been awarded with many other prestigious awards.

Filmography of Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Director
Khamoshi: The Musical (1996)
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
Devdas (2002)
Black (2005)
Saawariya (2007)
Guzaarish (2010)

Producer
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
Black (2005)
Saawariya (2007)
Guzaarish (2010)
My Friend Pinto (2011)
Rowdy Rathore (2011)

Writer
1942: A Love Story (1994)
Khamoshi: The Musical (1996)
Guzaarish (2010)

Music Director
Guzaarish (2010)