David Dhawan

His notable works include Swarg (1990), Shola Aur Shabnam, Bol Radha Bol (both 1992), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No.1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Judwaa, Hero No. 1, Mr. And Mrs. Khiladi, Deewana Mastana (all 1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), Chal Mere Bhai (2000), Jodi No.1 (2001), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005), Partner (2007), Chashme Baddoor (2013), Main Tera Hero (2014), Judwaa 2 (2017), and Coolie No.

• Name — David Dhawan • Birth Name — Rajinder Dhawan • Born — 16 August 1951 • Birthplace — Agartala, Tripura, India • Spouse — Karuna Dhawan • Children — Rohit Dhawan (son) Varun Dhawan (son) • Occupation — Filmmaker • Years Active — 1989-2026 • Relatives — See Dhawan family

David Dhawan was born on 16 August 1951 as Rajinder Dhawan in Agartala, Tripura in to a Punjabi family. His father, a manager in UCO Bank, got transferred to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He studied in Christ Church College and BNSD Inter College until Class XII, and then joined FTII for acting, where he changed his name to David Dhawan, a pet name given by his Jew neighbours in Agartala. Seeing other actors like Satish Shah and Suresh Oberoi, Dhawan realised that he could not act. So he took up editing instead. He became a fan of Manmohan Desai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Watching the Bengali film Meghe Dhaka Tara, directed by Ritwik Ghatak, inspired him to pursue filmmaking and passed with a gold medal. Dhawan has two brothers, actors Anil and Ashok.

Dhawan started off as an editor in Saaransh in 1984 before moving into directing. He specialises in directing comedy films. His 1993 film Aankhen, starring Govinda, Chunky Pandey and Kader Khan, was highly successful at the box office, and earned him his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. Another successful film was Shola Aur Shabnam. His 2007 film Partner was successful. Dhawan is on the board of Asian Academy of Film & Television and Asian School of Media Studies where he has been honoured with an academy award by Sandeep Marwah. He was a judge on the Star Plus show Nach Baliye 3 in 2008 and on the show Hans Baliye.

Dhawan first teamed with actor Govinda for the film Taaqatwar (1989). He then formed a collaboration with Govinda and directed 18 films with him as the leading actor, including Swarg (1990), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Banarasi Babu (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Hero No. 1 (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Kunwara (2000), Jodi No.1 (2001), Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), Partner (2007) and Do Knot Disturb (2009). Partner, which also starred Salman Khan, grossed Rs. 300 Million in India on its opening week, the second highest domestic opening week gross for an Indian film at that time. The same year, Salman Khan invited Dhawan and Govinda on his show 10 Ka Dum to celebrate Partner. Dhawan also collaborated with Khan in Biwi No.1 (1999), which emerged as a critical and commercial success, and earned Dhawan his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. Dhawan got back to the trio of Govinda, Ritesh Deshmukh and himself with the film, Do Knot Disturb.

In an early 2026 interview, Dhawan said that]]Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai]] would be his last film as a director.

Dhawan is married to Karuna Dhawan (née Chopra), with whom he has two sons, Rohit Dhawan and Varun Dhawan. His brother is actor Anil Dhawan and nephew is actor Siddharth Dhawan.

• Year — Film — Notes • 1989 — Taaqatwar • Gola Barood • Aag Ka Gola • Jurrat — Remake of The Untouchables • 1990 — Swarg — Inspired by Mehrban • Aandhiyan — Remake of Doorian • 1992 — Shola Aur Shabnam • Bol Radha Bol • 1993 — Aankhen — Inspired by Anubavi Raja Anubavi • 1994 — Raja Babu — Inspired by Rasukutty • Eena Meena Deeka — Inspired by Three Fugitives • Andaz — Remake of Sundara Kandam • 1995 — Yaraana — Based on Sleeping with the Enemy • Coolie No. 1 — Remake of Sinna Mapplai • 1996 — Loafer — Remake of Velai Kidaichuduchu • Saajan Chale Sasural — Remake of Allari Mogudu • 1997 — Mr and Mrs Khiladi — Remake of Aa Okkati Adakku • Banarasi Babu — Inspired by The Taming of the Shrew and Pattikada Pattanama • Judwaa — Remake of Hello Brother • Deewana Mastana — Inspired by What About Bob? • Hero No. 1 — Inspired by Galpo Holeo Satti • 1998 — Gharwali Baharwali — Remake of Thaikulame Thaikulame • Bade Miyan Chote Miyan — Inspired by Bhranti Bilas and Bad Boys • 1999 — Biwi No.1 — Remake of Sathi Leelavathi • Haseena Maan Jaayegi — Inspired by Pyar Kiye Jaa • 2000 — Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge — Inspired by Ek Phool Char Kante • Kunwara — Remake of Bavagaru Bagunnara? • Chal Mere Bhai • 2001 — Jodi No.1 • Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta — Inspired by Liar Liar • 2002 — Chor Machaaye Shor — Remake of Blue Streak • Hum Kisise Kum Nahin — Inspired by Analyze This • Yeh Hai Jalwa — Inspired by Carbon Copy • 2003 — Ek Aur Ek Gyarah — Remake of Phool Aar Pathar • 2004 — Mujhse Shaadi Karogi — Inspired by Anger Management • 2005 — Shaadi No. 1 — Remake of Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu; also appeared as himself (opening credits sequence) • Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? — Adaptation of Cactus Flower • 2007 — Partner — Based on Hitch • 2009 — Do Knot Disturb — Remake of The Valet • 2011 — Rascals — Remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels • 2013 — Chashme Buddoor — Remake of Chashme Buddoor • 2014 — Main Tera Hero — Remake of Kandireega • 2017 — Judwaa 2 — Remake of his own Judwaa • 2020 — Coolie No. 1 — Remake of his own Coolie No. 1 • 2026 — Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai — Marks the final direction venture.

David Dhawan is recorded as screenwriter, film editor, actor and director.