| Raj Kumar Gupta | |
| Occupation: | Director, screenwriter, producer |
| Yearsactive: | 2003–present |
Raj Kumar Gupta is an Indian Writer, Director & Producer known for Aamir (film), No One Killed Jessica, Raid (2018 film), and Pill. He made his remarkable debut with the critically acclaimed and commercially successful film Aamir (film). Shot with a shoestring budget and guerrilla style on the streets of Mumbai, this edgy thriller established Raj Kumar Gupta as a filmmaker to watch and garnered several award nominations in the Best Debut Director category that year.
Following his debut, Raj Kumar Gupta penned the screenplay for Barah Aana (2009) and then wrote and directed No One Killed Jessica (2011), based on the true story of the murder of Jessica Lal and the controversial trial that followed. This powerful drama, featuring Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan, drew rave reviews and set the box office ringing. The film was nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Filmfare and Screen Awards in the Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay categories, catapulting Raj Kumar Gupta into the big league of filmmakers. In 2013, Raj Kumar Gupta surprised his audience with the suspense comic caper Ghanchakkar (film), starring Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan. The film drew a divided response from critics and viewers but confirmed that Gupta was not one to play by the conventional rules set by the industry.
Expanding his horizons, Gupta made his debut as a producer in 2016 with the short film Aaba under his production house Raapchik Films. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival 2017 in the Generation K Plus Category and won the prestigious International Jury Prize for Best Short Film in its category & won the National Award as well. In 2018, Raj Kumar Gupta directed the critically acclaimed film Raid (2018 film) starring Ajay Devgn and Saurabh Shukla. The film is based on the real-life events of one of the longest income tax raids in India's history, conducted in the 1980s. It received glowing reviews for its gripping narrative, intense performances, and Gupta's skillful direction. It became one of the very few films to enter the prestigious 100 Crore Club in 2018.
The following year, Gupta helmed India's Most Wanted (film) as Writer-Director & Producer, an action thriller inspired by true events about a team of intelligence officers who embark on a dangerous manhunt to capture a notorious terrorist. Returning to the stage after a five-year hiatus, Raj Kumar Gupta embarks on a new journey into the web series world with his upcoming project Pill. This investigative pharmaceutical thriller, starring Riteish Deshmukh, exposes the bitter truth about the country's pharmaceutical industry and raises the critical question: Profits over Patients? Gupta serves as the Creator, Writer, Director, and Executive Producer of the show, marking his versatile foray into web series production. Pill starts streaming on JioCinema on July 12th, 2024.
Raj Kumar Gupta will triumphantly return to the big screen with the highly anticipated and upcoming release of Raid 2. Featuring powerhouses Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh. This exciting new chapter showcases Raj Kumar Gupta's remarkable versatility and groundbreaking vision, as he fearlessly pushes the envelope in both cinematic and web formats. His unwavering dedication to crafting compelling narratives, whether through high-octane blockbuster films or innovative & subjective web series, cements his status as a dynamic and pioneering filmmaker, consistently transforming the industry landscape.
| Year | Film | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Aamir | ||
| 2011 | No One Killed Jessica | ||
| 2013 | Ghanchakkar | ||
| 2018 | Raid | ||
| 2019 | India's Most Wanted | ||
| 2024 | Pill | ||
| Raid 2 |