Bollywood directors who have moved out of their comfort zones

When it comes to filmmaking drifting from onersquos comfort zone is never easy After all a film is a cumulative effort of so many people and a lot is riding on it While a few filmmakers stick to making a certain kind of films there are many who have left their comfort zones and dared to experiment regardless of the outcomeIn a recent interview Rajkumar Hirani confessed that everyone has branded him as lsquobhala manasrsquo or a simpleton and if he ever has to break free from that image hersquoll have to make a sex comedyRajkumar HiraniThe director who has given us films like Munnabhai MMBS Lage Raho Munna Bhai 3 Idiots and PK claims that he makes movies for himself and takes on subjects he is close to Nonetheless over the years several directors have taken a break from their trademark styles to try and experiment with a different genre hitlist gives you a low down on such filmmakersAshutosh GowarikerHis love for history and rural India is seen in all his films Gowariker started showcasing his love for the period drama with Lagaan 2001 which was a huge success and even made it to the Oscars He followed that up with Swades 2004 and Jodhaa Akbar 2008 The director was having a dream run at the boxoffice when he made Priyanka Chopra and Harman Bawejastarrer Whatrsquos your Raashee 2009 The film proved to be a dud Post it Gowariker went back to dabbling in period drama with Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey 2010 and five years later he is working on Mohenjo Daro with Hrithik Roshan Gowariker definitely learnt a lesson from his experimentSubhash GhaiMusical love stories have Ghairsquos patent From Ram Lakhan 1989 and Pardes 1997 to Taal 1999 and Aitraaz 2001 they have all made an impact The filmmaker then directed Black amp White 2008 which was laced with terrorism and Hindu Muslim friction The movie tanked at the box office but it was the first time the director went off script and tried something that was not musical or romanticKaran JoharThe filmmaker is known for his grand productions so when he made My Name Is Khan 2010 it took many by surprise The story of an Indian Muslim man suffering from Aspergerrsquos syndrome intertwined with the fiasco post 911 was an interesting blend Barring a few flaws Johar was lauded for his attempt to shed his trademark style and try something new The film was a boxoffice hitAnurag KashyapThe name is synonymous with gun trotting and expletives When Anurag began his career as a writer with Satya 1998 the industry stood up and took notice He hasnrsquot kept his pen down since He turned director with Paanch which is yet to see the light of the day After making several movies on hardhitting and dark subjects it came as a surprise when Anurag decided to direct Bombay Velvet 2015 While the film tanked at the box office it was the first time the filmmaker not only worked with Alist actors but also showcased Mumbai of the rsquo60s against the backdrop of love greed violence and jazz musicAbbas MustanThe men in white are known for the thrillers For decades theyrsquove been twisting and turning plots to take the audiences by surprise and successfully so Be it Akshay Kumarstarrer Khiladi 1992 Shah Rukh Khanrsquos Baazigar 1993 or the Race franchise the director duo has always managed to get it right However this year they decided to do something different and directed an outandout comedy Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon The film which stars comedian Kapil Sharma in the lead has proved to be a hit at the boxoffice Clearly AbbasMustanrsquos gamble paid off