Shashank Khaitan

Shashank Khaitan is an Indian film director, producer, and writer, known for his work in Bollywood. A multi-talented film professional, he gained recognition through his affiliation with Dharma Productions.

Khaitan began his career in showbiz in the year 2000. He started by teaching dance. Then, needing the proper guidance in filmmaking, he joined Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods International Institute to gain entry into Bollywood. After graduating in 2008, he started his script-writing career.

Between 2010 and 2013, he wrote seven screenplays with dialogues and sent each one to the creative team at Dharma Productions. The production house approved his final script for Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya.

Karan Johar roped him in to direct the film, which made waves in the Hindi film industry. Grossing over Rs. one billion worldwide, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) was a hit at the box office.

Khaitan’s second directorial venture was The Bride of Badrinath (2017). Again, backed by Dharma Productions, it was yet another commercial success, earning nearly Rs. two billion globally.

He then directed Dhadak (2018) (2018), starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khattar in the lead roles. A remake of the hit Marathi film Sairat (2016), Dhadak received less critical appreciation. However, it was a success at the box office.

In 2019, Khaitan started his career as a producer with the film Good Newwz (2019) and the horror thriller Bhoot: Part One – The Haunted Ship (2020). In 2021, he directed the segment Majnu in the Netflix anthology Ajeeb Daastaans (2021).

Khaitan then became a writer and director for the comedy thriller Govinda Naam Mera (2022), starring Vicky Kaushal, Kiara Advani, and Bhumi Pednekar.

Wanting to try his hand at acting, Khaitan appeared in the short film Roorkee By-Pass (2008) as Manohar, in Ishaqzaade (2012) as Dharma Chauhan, and in Govinda Naam Mera (2022) as Anand Joshi.

He forayed into music as well. He worked as a lyricist for Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Ajeeb Daastaans (2021).

Khaitan received a nomination for the Most Promising Debut Director for the film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania at the Apsara Film Producers Guild Awards (2015).

He was also nominated for the Best Director category at the Filmfare Awards and The Screen Awards for Badrinath Ki Dulhania in 2018. His film Good Newwz received a Viewer’s Choice Award nomination at the Zee Cine Awards 2020 for Best Film.

Khaitan has appeared in TV series like Talk Shop (2017). He was also the judge for 22 episodes of the Indian dance reality show Dance Deewane (2018) with Madhuri Dixit and Tushar Kalia. In 2016, he appeared as himself in one episode of The Kapil Sharma Show (2016).