One of the most capable filmmakers of his generation, Tigmanshu Dhulia is also a screenwriter, producer, and actor known for his impactful films and intense performances. Films like Haasil, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, and Paan Singh Tomar, as well as the character of Ramadheer Singh, are enough to make him immortal in film history.
Early Life and Career
Tigmanshu Dhulia was born on July 3, 1967, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Keshav Chandra Dhulia, served as a judge at the Allahabad High Court. His mother, Sumitra Dhulia, was a Sanskrit professor. He is the youngest of three brothers, with one joining the Navy and another becoming a Supreme Court judge.
Dhulia first went to Anglo Bengali Intermediate College, Allahabad. He completed his schooling at St. Joseph’s College in Allahabad. Dhulia later studied at Allahabad University, earning degrees in English, economics, and modern history. He pursued a master’s degree in theater at the National School of Drama in New Delhi, completing it in 1989. His theater training shaped his cinematic approach.
Tigmanshu Dhulia entered entertainment in 1990, moving to Mumbai after drama school. It was not straightforward to get the desired jobs in the industry. In the beginning of his career, he did everything that came in his way. In 1991 he wrote and directed the TV series Kahani Ek Kanya Ki for Doordarshan. He also acted in the serial with Sanjay Mishra and Aditya Srivastav
He also assisted Pradip Kishan, Ketan Mehta and Shekhar Kapoor. In 1992 he had a small role in Pradip Kishan’s Electric Moon, starring big names like Roshan Seth, Alice Spivak, Frances Helm, James Fleet, Naseeruddin Shah, Leela Naidu, and Raghubir Yadav. The film was written by Arundhati Roy. He also acted in Gary Sinyor’s Stiff Upper Lips (1995), a spoof of Merchant-Ivory films.
At the same time, he worked with Shekhar Kapur on the casting of “Bandit Queen,” the biopic of Phoolan Devi. It was he who recommended Manoj Bajpayee for the role of Man Singh. In his early career, Dhulia worked extensively for TV. He directed shows like Hum Bambai Nahin Jayenge (1994), Naya Daur (1997), Rajdhani (1999), and Star Bestsellers (1999).
Breakthrough
In 1996 he wrote the dialogue for ABCL’s Tere Mere Sapne (1996), directed by Joy Augustine. His big opportunity came when he got the chance to work with Mani Rathnam on Dil Se.. (1998). Dhulia wrote the dialogue of the film and was praised for the work. In 2001 he teamed up with Goldie Behl for Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai… (2001).
Haasil (2003) marks Tigmanshu Dhulia’s directorial debut. The film, set in the student politics and struggle for power, tells a story of obsessive love. It stars Irrfan Khan as Ranvijay Singh and Ashutosh Rana as Gauri Shankar Pandey, two rival leaders. The plot became complicated when Rajvijay fell in love with a girl, Hrishita Bhatt, already committed to Jimmy Sheirgill. The film established Irrfan as a formidable presence in the industry. With time, Haasil has achieved a cult following for its raw and realistic portrayal of student politics as well as human emotions.
He then directed the crime drama Charas (2004) starring Jimmy Sheirgill, Uday Chopra and Irrfan Khan.
Critical Acclaim
In 2011 he came up with Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, a political thriller, a modern take on the epic Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam. It stars Jimmy Sheirgill as Aditya Pratap Singh, a paralyzed royal. Mahie Gill plays his wife, and Randeep Hooda is the gangster. The story explores power, betrayal, and revenge.
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns (2013), a sequel, again stars Jimmy Sheirgill and Mahie Gill. It introduces Irrfan Khan as a rival politician. Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 (2018) brings back Jimmy Sheirgill and Mahie Gill, with Sanjay Dutt joining as a new gangster.
Paan Singh Tomar (2012) is perhaps Tigmanshu Dhulia’s most celebrated and important work. He got the idea for the film when he was working on Bandit Queen in the early 1990s. Paan Singh Tomar, a biographical sports drama, stars Irrfan Khan as the titular athlete-turned-dacoit. It traces his journey from army steeplechase champion to outlaw. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2012.
In 2013 he directed Bullett Raja (2013) with Saif Ali Khan as Raja Mishra, a gangster in Uttar Pradesh. Jimmy Sheirgill co-stars as his friend. The narrative blends revenge with political corruption. His Raag Desh (2017) is a historical drama depicting the 1945 INA trials. It stars Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh, and Mohit Marwah as Indian officers. In the film, Dhulia explores the independence movement’s legal battles. The film received appreciation for its research but get limited commercial success.
In 2019 Dhulia directed Milan Talkies, a romantic drama that stars Ali Fazal as a projectionist and Shraddha Srinath as his love interest. It revolves around a small-town cinema’s struggles. Apart from these films, he also wrote Family: Ties of Blood (2006), Shagird (2011), and The Shaukeens (2014).
Other Work
Despite being a trained actor, Dhulia was not too keen on acting until Anurag Kashyap almost tricked him into doing Gangs of Wasseypur. With the success of the film, his character in the film, “Ramadhir Singh,” became a cultural phenomenon. After that he acted in Shahid (2012), Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015), Hero (2015), Zero (2018), Milan Talkies (2019), Raat Akeli Hai (2020), and Holy Cow (2022). He also acted in series like Yudh (2014), Rangbaaz (2018), Fixerr (2019), Tandav (2021), Call My Agent Bollywood (2021), Commando (2023), Kaalkoot (2023), and Black, White & Gray: Love Kills (2025).
He also directed web series like Criminal Justice (2019), Out of Love (2019), Yaara (2020), The Great Indian Murder (2022), and Garmi (2023).
What Make Dhulia Unique
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s craft emphasizes raw, realistic performances. He uses guerrilla-style cameras, capturing spontaneous reactions, as seen in “Haasil.” His process involves extensive script workshops with actors, refining dialogue on location. Themes include power struggles, caste politics, and justice, evident in “Haasil” and “Paan Singh Tomar.” He explores crime betrayal and survival in “Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster” and historical resilience in “Raag Desh.” His UP roots inform his gritty narratives; he also authentically used the settings of UP.
Personal Life
Tigmanshu Dhulia married Tulika Dhulia in 1989 after she ran away from home. Tulika works as a costume designer. They met in school, with Tulika in Class VII and Dhulia in Class VIII. The couple has no children. They live in Mumbai, maintaining a low profile.
Tigmanshu Dhulia on IMDB
