Indian cinema has witnessed some immensely talented iconoclastic filmmakers: from Guru Dutt to Ritwik Ghatak; Satyajit Ray to Girish Karnad; Shyam Benegal to Nagesh Kukunoor. As was the case with most of these directors they dealt with real people and real situations. Nagesh Kukunoor, too, deals with real people in his films. Earlier he made outstanding films within shoestring budgets.

Kukunoor is also referred to as the maverick because his films have a completely different approach. Yet the audience accepts his films because they are told simply. The man has the gift of transferring the most difficult thoughts lucidly on the celluloid. Born and brought up in Hyderabad he had also moved to Atlanta to pursue his studies.

It is not surprising at all that his first film, Hyderabad Blues (1998), deals with an Indian who came back to India after a stay in USA. He directed as well as played the lead role in the movie. It was the first film where Hyderabadi Urdu was used accurately. The film was a major hit and well appreciated by the audience. In the theatres of Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore the film ran for 6 months. It was also shown simultaneously in ten international film festivals. After Hyderabad Blues there was no looking back for Nagesh Kukunoor.

His next film was Rockford (1999). The film starred Nandita Das, Nagesh Kukunoor and Rohan Dey. The latter plays the 13 year old boy and the protagonist of the film. It was considered a coming-of-the-age movie. Next came Bollywood Calling. The film`s star cast included Om Puri, Navin Nischol and Perizaad Zorabian. Teen Deewarein (2003) was a thriller that brought together some of the finest actors of Bollywood. Naseeruddin Shah, Juhi Chawla, Jackie Shroff and the director himself was part of the cast. The film reveals how the lives of four people are amazingly interwoven with each other by sheer fate. After this he made a sequel to Hyderabad Blues in 2004. The film, however, did not do quite well.

His next directorial venture was Iqbal (2005). The film had Shreyas Talpade in the lead role. Apart from him the film also had Naseeruddin Shah in a pivotal role. Girish Karnad, Shweta Prasad and others were also part of the cast.

In 2006 Nagesh Kukunoor came up with Dor with Ayesha Takia and Gul Panag. This particular film narrates the story of love, companionship, loss, expectation and salvation. Within this short career span Kukunoor has received several awards.

Audience Award for best film (Peachtree International Film Festival, Atlanta): Hyderabad Blues.

Audience Award for best film (Rhode Island Film Festival): Hyderabad Blues

Best Story Award (Filmfare Awards 2003): Teen Deewarein

Kukunoor is presently busy with his two upcoming projects, Aashayein and Eight by Ten. Both are due for release in 2008.