Siddharth Anand completes 20 years in Bollywood; says, 'Success to me is being able to make a film that I want to make'

Siddharth Anand

Siddharth Anand could well be called as one of Bollywood’s most commercially consistent directors. The filmmaker completes 20 years in the Hindi film industry this week. From Salaam Namaste in 2005 to Pathaan and Fighter, the filmmaker has maintained a rare 100 percent success ratio across genres. Reflecting on his journey, Anand says his definition of success has evolved with time, but today it is all about creative freedom.

Speaking to Pinkvilla, Anand recalled how, at different stages of his career, success meant different things. “At every stage of my journey, the definition of success meant different things. I started out as an AD in 2000, and back then, success for me was just being able to make another film. In our industry, the biggest validation for filmmakers is getting an actor, because it means you are relevant. And today, success to me is being able to make a film that I want to make.”

He added, “So today, success to me is the free to choose a film that I want to make. I don’t have to cater to the needs of market or the actor.”

Looking back, Anand admitted that Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007) was the toughest to execute. The NASCAR racing sequences in New York were logistically challenging and emotionally draining. Though he’s proud of how the film has aged, he admits that if he were to make it today, he would portray the poverty angle differently. Audiences had felt that the hardships depicted in the film appeared “too comfortable.”

Interestingly, the Brad Pitt-starrer F1 recently revived conversations around Ta Ra Rum Pum online. While Anand finds the comparison flattering, he acknowledges that Joseph Kosinski’s work in F1 is on another level altogether.

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After four rom-coms, Anand shifted gears with Bang Bang in 2014. War (2019), Pathaan (2023), and Fighter (2024) cemented his reputation as a master of scale and spectacle. However, Anand insists he hasn’t abandoned love stories. He is actively seeking a project to return to the romantic genre, though he admits, “I always need a lot of belief to give 3 years to go and make the film. I am looking for a romantic film actively.”

Currently, Anand is shooting King in Poland. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan. Slated for a 2027 release, it marks his ninth directorial venture.