Indra Kumar

Some Lesser Known Facts About Indra Kumar

• Indra Kumar is an Indian actor, producer, and director who is known for directing the Bollywood series Dhamaal (2007) and Grand Masti (2013).

• He was born to a Parsi father and a Hindu mother. In an interview, Indra recalled his childhood days and said that his mother passed away when he was still in school. Further, he said that his eldest sister, Aruna Irani, used to take care of the family after his mother’s death. While discussing the same, Indra said,
  

  If I am at this stage today, then all the credit goes to my sister Aruna Irani. After the death of our mother in childhood, our sister Aruna Irani brought up seven siblings. To me, she is no less than a goddess. Even today when I see a working woman, my head bows in reverence.” ^[4]India Herald

  

• In 1968, Indra Kumar made his acting debut with the Hindi film Kismat. In 1975, he worked as an actor in the Hindi film Biwi Kiraya Ki.

• In 1980, Indra made his Gujarati debut as an actor with the film Gangapur Ni Ganga. Subsequently, he worked in many Gujarati-language films like Chhel Chabili Sonal (1981), Charotar Ni Champa (1982), and Footpath Ni Rani (1984).

• In 1981, Indra worked as an actor in the Assamese film Charotar Ni Champa.

• In 1985, Indra started his career as a film producer. The name of Indra’s production house is Maruti Films Private Limited and his partner in the production house is Ashok Navalkumar Thakeria. The first film produced by Indra was Mohabbat (1985).

  

• In 1990, he ventured into filmmaking with the Hindi film Dil. Later, in the 1990s, Indra directed many Hindi films like Beta (1992), Raja (1995), and Mann-Soul’s Heart (1999).

  

• In 1996, Indra was nominated for Best Director Award and Best Film Award for the Hindi film Raja (1995) at the Filmfare Awards.

• In 2007, Indra directed the popular Hindi film Dhamaal. In 2011, Kumar directed the film Double Dhamaal, a sequel to Dhamaal.

• Indra has directed many Hindi comedy films like Grand Masti (2013), Great Grand Masti (2016), and Thank God (2022).

• At the 2014 Bollywood Business Awards, Indra Kumar and Ashok Thakeria shared the 100 Crore Club Award for the Hindi film Grand Masti (2013).

  

• In an interview, in 2022, Indra talked about his comedy film Thank God (2022) in which Sidharth Malhotra and Ajay Devgn were featured as lead actors and said that many people warned him when he decided to cast Sidharth in the comedy film as he had no record of acting in comedy films. Indra explained,
  

  What he has done in this film, the reactions, he’s done it beautifully. People would question me earlier, why him, can he do comedy? And I told them he could, 100%. “People were doubting you?”“Not me, him,”. “He’s never done comedy, he’s a sweet boy. ^[5]The Indian Express

• In an interview, Indra talked about his career as a film director and said that he regretted not working with Amitabh Bachchan in any of his directed films. In an interview, while discussing the same, Indra explained why he was unable to work with Amitabh and said,
  

  I regret not working with Shri Amitabh Bachchan,”. “Actually it was my mistake that I decided to start two films at the same time…Ishq and Rishta. So I hastily signed Amitabh Bachchan for Rishta. Ishq was already on floors, while we performed muhurat of Rishta. It is then that I realised I would not be able to handle two films at a time. It all happened because of me…it is my mistake. But Amitabh Bachchan was very considerate and told me “theek hai aap Ishq kar lijiye tab tak main Mrutyudaata ki shooting complete kar leta hoon.”

• Reportedly, in 2019, Indra was going to direct the film Hera Pheri 3, a sequel to the popular film Hera Pheri; however, later, the film was postponed owing to the actors’ busy schedules. ^[6]India Today

• In an interview, Indra Kumar talked about his films and said that he had a bad fate in the film industry. Further, Indra said that he often received negative reviews for his many films. Indra said,
  

  My films right from Beta to Dil to Ishq and Masti and Dhamaal have not got good reviews. Today people say Beta is a cult film but the review then was not good, similar was the case with Dil.I don’t think I will ever get good reviews for my films. In my case it is not just about commercial comedy films but the other ones too haven’t been liked by the critics. There is fault in my stars.”

• He is often spotted consuming alcohol on various occasions.

  

• In an interview, Indra Kumar said that his favourite actor was Riteish Deshmukh.