Anees Bazmee is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer whose career has stretched across several generations of Hindi cinema. He is best known for directing comedy-driven entertainers such as No Entry, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng, Ready, Welcome Back, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. His career, however, began long before those films. He worked as a child actor, assisted filmmakers, wrote scripts and dialogue, and spent years learning different parts of filmmaking before establishing himself as a director.
Born in Modasa, Gujarat, in 1962, Bazmee grew up in a family connected to Urdu poetry. His father, Abdul Hameed “Nerang” Bazmee, was an Urdu poet. Bazmee eventually carried that early exposure to language and storytelling into a career that made writing one of the foundations of his filmmaking.
As of October 2026, Bazmee remains active in Hindi cinema. He is directing a new film with Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan, while No Entry 2 remains in development despite changes and scheduling difficulties surrounding the project.
What Is Anees Bazmee’s Real Name?
Anees Bazmee’s full name is Anees Ahmed Abdul Hameed Bazmee. He is professionally known simply as Anees Bazmee.
The longer name is also reflected in Indian corporate records connected with companies associated with the filmmaker.
How Old Is Anees Bazmee?
Anees Bazmee was born on November 1, 1962, in Modasa, Gujarat, India.
He turned 63 in November 2025 and will turn 64 in November 2026.
His birthplace is often described as a small town in Gujarat. His family later moved to Mumbai, where Bazmee spent much of his formative years and eventually began building his career in the Hindi film industry.
Where Is Anees Bazmee From?
Bazmee was born in Modasa, Gujarat, and is Indian by nationality. Although his professional life has been closely associated with Mumbai, his early family background has roots in Gujarat.
His father, Abdul Hameed “Nerang” Bazmee, was an Urdu poet, while his mother was Khatoon Begum. The influence of poetry became important to Bazmee’s understanding of words and storytelling. In later interviews, he has spoken about writing and rewriting as essential parts of the filmmaking process.
Anees Bazmee’s Early Life and Education
Bazmee’s route into cinema was unusual because he began working at a very young age.
He entered the film world as a child performer and appeared in films including Kitaab and Naseeb. His appearance in Naseeb involved playing a younger version of Shatrughan Sinha’s character.
Acting, however, was not ultimately the career he wanted. Bazmee has explained that working in films at that age was partly a necessity because of the difficult circumstances surrounding his family.
He eventually moved toward the technical and creative side of filmmaking. During his early years in Mumbai, he worked in different capacities and gained experience around sound recording, editing and art direction. He also worked with writers and learned the mechanics of screenplay construction.
His formal education did not extend far beyond secondary school. What became more important to his career was the practical education he received on film sets.
How Did Anees Bazmee Start His Film Career?
One of Bazmee’s earliest major steps behind the camera came when he worked as an assistant director on Raj Kapoor’s Prem Rog in 1982.
That experience gave him an opportunity to observe a major filmmaker at work and understand how a large Hindi film production functioned from close range.
Writing gradually became another important part of his career. Bazmee worked on screenplays, dialogue and stories during the late 1980s and 1990s. Among the films associated with his early writing career were Swarg, Aankhen, Raja Babu, Laadla, Gopi Kishan, Deewana Mastana, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and several other Hindi films.
This period was crucial because Bazmee was building a reputation as a writer before becoming widely recognised as a director.
He has said that he wanted to direct but first needed to develop enough experience to work confidently with established actors. That patience shaped the next stage of his career.
Anees Bazmee’s Directing Debut
Bazmee made his directorial debut with Hulchul in 1995.
The film gave him his first opportunity to lead a feature film as director, but his bigger commercial breakthrough came a few years later.
In 1998, he directed Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, starring Ajay Devgn and Kajol. The romantic film became a significant commercial success and established Bazmee as a director capable of handling mainstream Hindi cinema beyond the comedy genre for which he would later become famous.
Anees Bazmee’s Breakthrough as a Director
Although Bazmee had already directed films, No Entry in 2005 was the project that changed the scale of his career.
Starring Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan, the film built its comedy around mistaken identities, infidelity and escalating confusion. Its success helped establish Bazmee as one of the prominent commercial comedy directors of the period.
Two years later came Welcome, another major turning point.
Released in 2007, Welcome brought together Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and several other actors. The film mixed romance, crime and broad comedy, creating a collection of characters and situations that became particularly memorable to Hindi film audiences.
The success of No Entry and Welcome strongly influenced the direction of Bazmee’s career.
Anees Bazmee’s Movies
Bazmee has directed films across comedy, romance, thriller and family entertainment.
Some of his most important directorial credits include:
- Hulchul (1995)
- Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998)
- Deewangee (2002)
- No Entry (2005)
- Sandwich (2006)
- Welcome (2007)
- Singh Is Kinng (2008)
- No Problem (2010)
- Thank You (2011)
- Ready (2011)
- Welcome Back (2015)
- Mubarakan (2017)
- Pagalpanti (2019)
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022)
- Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024)
He also directed It’s My Life, a film that was shot years earlier and eventually released in 2020, and Naam, another delayed project that reached audiences in 2024.
His writing credits extend well beyond his directing filmography. Bazmee contributed to films including Swarg, Aankhen, Raja Babu, Laadla, Deewana Mastana, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Welcome and No Entry.
Why Is Anees Bazmee Known for Comedy?
Comedy became Bazmee’s strongest professional identity, but his filmography shows that he did not begin exclusively as a comedy filmmaker.
He directed the thriller Deewangee in 2002 and the romantic film Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha before making several of his best-known comedies.
Bazmee has often described comedy as difficult to write because humour depends heavily on timing, character behaviour and the construction of a scene. His films frequently place ordinary characters in increasingly complicated situations and allow the resulting confusion to drive the humour.
That approach can be seen in No Entry, Welcome, Ready and Mubarakan, although each uses a different setting and group of characters.
Anees Bazmee and Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar has been one of the most important collaborators in Bazmee’s directing career.
The pair worked together on Welcome, a film that became one of Bazmee’s signature successes. They later reunited for Welcome Back, although Kumar did not appear in that sequel.
Their professional association has continued into 2026. Bazmee is currently directing a new film featuring Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan, with Raashii Khanna also attached to the project.
The film is an untitled comedy project at the time of writing. Reports in 2026 indicate that portions of its production have already been filmed, including work in Kerala and Mumbai, with additional shooting planned in Dehradun.
Anees Bazmee and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
After Pagalpanti in 2019, Bazmee returned to the big screen with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in 2022.
The film was not a continuation of the original movie’s storyline in the conventional sense. Bazmee took the franchise in a more overtly horror-comedy direction, with Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu leading the cast.
The film became an important comeback for Bazmee and performed strongly at the box office during a period when the Hindi film industry was still recovering from the disruption caused by the pandemic.
The project also earned Bazmee major award nominations for directing, including Filmfare and IIFA recognition.
Anees Bazmee and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
Bazmee returned to the franchise with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, released in 2024.
Kartik Aaryan returned as Rooh Baba, while Vidya Balan returned to the franchise and Madhuri Dixit joined the principal cast. The film combined horror, comedy and family entertainment in the style Bazmee had developed with the second installment.
The film strengthened his recent association with large-scale commercial entertainers and earned him further recognition in director categories.
Anees Bazmee’s Awards and Achievements
Bazmee has received both awards and nominations during his career, particularly for his work in mainstream Hindi cinema.
Among his recognised achievements are a 2008 Star Gold Comedy Honors award for Director with Comic Excellence and later honours connected with his contribution to Hindi cinema.
His work on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 brought Best Director nominations at major industry awards, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 also earned him director nominations and popular awards attention.
The Indian Television Academy additionally honoured Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 with its Scroll of Honour for Best Film of the Year in 2022, shared with producer Murad Khetani.
Rather than a single award defining his career, Bazmee’s standing has largely been built through a long run of commercially successful films and his ability to work repeatedly with major Hindi film stars.
Anees Bazmee’s Family
Bazmee is married to Fatima Bazmee. Publicly available records also connect Fatima Bazmee with production companies associated with the filmmaker.
The couple have children, including their son Faizan Bazmee, who has followed his father into the film business as a writer and has also been associated with production ventures.
Bazmee has generally kept his family life less prominent than his professional work. He has spoken publicly about his family and his preference for making films that can be watched by families together, but there is little reason to turn private family matters into the focus of his biography.
Anees Bazmee’s Production Work
Bazmee’s career has expanded beyond directing and writing.
Corporate records show that he has been involved with production and entertainment companies, including Anees Bazmee Production LLP and Anees Bazmee Creates and Directs Entertainment Private Limited.
His son Faizan Bazmee has also been associated with some of these ventures, reflecting a broader family connection to film production.
What Is Anees Bazmee Doing Now?
As of October 2026, Bazmee is actively working on new Hindi films.
His most immediate project is an untitled comedy starring Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan and Raashii Khanna. Production has been progressing through different shooting schedules, making it one of the clearest confirmed projects in his current slate.
Another major project is No Entry 2. Bazmee confirmed in June 2026 that the sequel was still happening despite delays and changes surrounding its cast and scheduling.
The project has gone through considerable casting uncertainty. Earlier plans involved Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh, while later reports have suggested possible changes. Because the cast situation has continued to evolve, it is safer to treat individual casting reports separately from Bazmee’s confirmation that the film itself remains on track.
Is Anees Bazmee Directing Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4?
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 has been discussed and reported as an upcoming project, but its creative status is not as settled as some reports suggest.
In August 2026, Bazmee said there was no finished story for the fourth film yet. He explained that another installment would only make sense if the team found a story capable of matching what came before.
That means Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 should currently be regarded as a project under discussion rather than a film with a locked production schedule.
Bazmee has also maintained a strong working relationship with Kartik Aaryan, who starred in the second and third installments, but the director has made it clear that casting alone is not enough to justify another sequel.
What Makes Anees Bazmee’s Career Different?
Bazmee’s career is notable because he did not become a successful director overnight.
He spent years working in different areas of filmmaking, including acting, assistant direction, writing and technical departments. By the time he began directing regularly, he had already accumulated substantial practical experience.
That background is visible in his approach to commercial cinema. His films tend to begin with character relationships and situations that can generate conflict, confusion and humour. Even when the results are broad and deliberately theatrical, the underlying structure usually comes from screenwriting.
His career also shows an unusual ability to remain relevant across changing generations of Hindi cinema. He worked with actors such as Govinda and Ajay Devgn early in his writing career, later became closely associated with Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor, and subsequently directed younger stars including Kartik Aaryan, Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anees Bazmee
What is Anees Bazmee’s real name?
His full name is Anees Ahmed Abdul Hameed Bazmee. He is professionally known as Anees Bazmee.
How old is Anees Bazmee?
Anees Bazmee was born on November 1, 1962. He is 63 years old as of October 2026.
Where was Anees Bazmee born?
He was born in Modasa, Gujarat, India.
What is Anees Bazmee famous for?
He is best known for directing Hindi films such as No Entry, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng, Ready, Welcome Back, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.
What was Anees Bazmee’s first movie as a director?
His directorial debut was Hulchul, released in 1995.
What was Anees Bazmee’s breakthrough film?
Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha in 1998 was his first major commercial success as a director. No Entry later became a much bigger turning point in his career.
Did Anees Bazmee work as a writer?
Yes. Bazmee wrote and contributed dialogue, screenplay and story material for numerous Hindi films before and alongside his directing career. His writing credits include Swarg, Aankhen, Raja Babu, Deewana Mastana, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Welcome and No Entry.
Is Anees Bazmee married?
Yes. He is married to Fatima Bazmee.
Who is Anees Bazmee’s son?
His son is Faizan Bazmee, who has worked as a writer and has also been involved in production-related ventures.
Is No Entry 2 happening?
Yes. Bazmee confirmed in June 2026 that No Entry 2 is still happening, although the project has faced scheduling and casting changes.
Is Anees Bazmee making Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4?
The fourth installment has been discussed, but Bazmee said in 2026 that there was not yet a suitable story. Its development therefore remains dependent on finding the right concept.
What is Anees Bazmee’s next movie?
His confirmed current project is an untitled comedy featuring Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan and Raashii Khanna. The film is being directed by Bazmee and was in production during 2026.
Anees Bazmee’s Career in Perspective
Anees Bazmee’s story is less about one sudden breakthrough than it is about learning the film business from the ground up.
He entered cinema as a child, worked behind the scenes, developed as a writer and eventually moved into directing. His early films covered romance and thriller territory, but comedy became the genre most closely associated with his name.
From No Entry and Welcome to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Bazmee has repeatedly built films around large ensembles, escalating situations and accessible humour. His current projects suggest that he is still pursuing that kind of mainstream entertainment, while his comments about Bhool Bhulaiyaa 4 show that he is unwilling to make another sequel without a story he believes can justify it.
At 63, Bazmee remains an active filmmaker with several projects in development and production. His career now spans more than four decades, giving him a rare position in Hindi cinema: he has worked as a child performer, assistant, writer, director and producer, and has managed to remain part of the commercial film conversation across multiple generations.