And now 14 new directors:

By Bollywood Hungama -

April 21, 2003 - 12:00 AM IST

The year 2003 will surely go down as the year that witnessed the maximum number of newcomers making their debut in films. If the first quarter of the year [January to March] saw a number of newcomers facing the camera, the next quarter [April to June] will witness a record number of 14 directors making their foray in cinema. Starting with Sanjay Jha [PRAAN JAYE PAR SHAAN NA JAYE] and Ken Ghosh [ISHQ VISHK], the coming weeks will witness the directorial debut of B.H. Tharun Kumar [NAYEE PADOSAN], Gaurab Pandey [STUMPED], Tigmanshu Dhulia [HAASIL], Vijay Kumar [KAHAN HO TUM], Honey Irani [ARMAAN], Ammtoje Maan [HAWAYEIN], Apoorva Lakhia [MUMBAI SE AAYA MERA DOST], Sujoy Ghosh [JHANKAAR BEATS], Kushan Nandy [88 ANTOP HILL], Rohan Sippy [KUCH NAA KAHO], Prabal Pandey [DARNA MANA HAI] and Parvati Balagopalan [RULES]. What's even more interesting about these debutantes is the fact that each one comes from an altogether diverse background. Like B.H. Tharun Kumar is an accomplished choreographer, Vijay Kumar has been a documentary maker, Honey Irani is a proficient film writer, ditto for Tigmanshu Dhulia who has been associated with talked-about films like BANDIT QUEEN and DIL SE, Ammtoje Maan started out as an actor [he was Sunny Deol's replacement in Dilip Kumar's directorial debut KALINGA], Sujoy Ghosh has been a journalist, Rohan Sippy is the son of the legendary Ramesh Sippy, Prabal Pandey has been an assistant to Ramgopal Varma and both Kushan Nandy [son of Pritish Nandy] and Parvati Balagopalan have dabbled in television before taking their first big step in cinema. Another interesting aspect is that the above-named films are different from each other in terms of content. But will all of them meet a common fate - success at the box-office - let's pray for that!