Dadasaheb Phalke is known as the father of Indian cinema for his pioneering work in filmmaking. He directed and produced India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913.

Bandit Queen, directed by Shekhar Kapur, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994. It is a biographical film based on the life of Phoolan Devi, a dacoit who became a folk hero in India.

Satyajit Ray is known for his distinct style of filmmaking, which often features long takes and minimalist storytelling. He is considered one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of cinema.

Salaam Bombay!, directed by Mira Nair, was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards in 1989. It is a critically acclaimed film that depicts the lives of street children in Mumbai.

Ritwik Ghatak is known for his socially conscious films that often explore themes of poverty, inequality, and injustice. He is considered one of the most important filmmakers in the history of Indian cinema.

Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, was the highest-grossing film worldwide in 2017. It is a biographical sports drama film based on the life of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler who trained his daughters to become world-class wrestlers.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his visually stunning films that often explore themes of love, loss, and longing. He is considered one of the most successful filmmakers in Indian cinema.

Mother India, directed by Mehboob Khan, was the first Indian film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1958. It is a social drama film that explores the struggles of a widowed mother in rural India.

David Dhawan is known for his comedies that often feature slapstick humor and social commentary. He is considered one of the most successful comedy directors in Indian cinema.

Sanju, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, was the highest-grossing film worldwide in 2018. It is a biographical drama film based on the life of Sanjay Dutt, a controversial Bollywood actor.

Rohit Shetty is known for his action films that often feature high-octane stunts and elaborate set pieces. He is considered one of the most successful action directors in Indian cinema.

Neecha Nagar, directed by Chetan Anand, was the first Indian film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946. It is a social drama film that explores the lives of the poor in a small town.

Ram Gopal Varma is known for his horror films that often feature supernatural elements and psychological terror. He is considered one of the most successful horror directors in Indian cinema.

War, directed by Siddharth Anand, was the highest-grossing film worldwide in 2019. It is an action thriller film that stars Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff.

Anurag Kashyap is known for his realistic and hard-hitting films that often explore social and political issues. He is considered one of the most important filmmakers in contemporary Indian cinema.