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David Dhawan

David Dhawan

Director, editor and writer · Born August 16, 1960 (66) · Agartala, Tripura, India

David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan; 16 August 1951) is an Indian director of Hindi films. 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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 16, 1960 (66)
From
Agartala, Tripura, India
Works as
Director, editor and writer
Titles
16 on MovieCove · 56 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26

What are David Dhawan's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
66%
Morality
13%
Power
9%
Self
7%
Society
3%
Survival
1%
Romantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 9 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 11

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
10
Romantic
10
Absurd
7
Tense
6
Warm
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch David Dhawan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 16 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).

Subscription and free streaming for David Dhawan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

56 credits, 16 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director

  • Coolie No. 1(2020)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Judwaa 2(2017)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Main Tera Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • Chashme Baddoor(2013)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Rascals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Do Knot Disturb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Partner(2007)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Shaadi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Writer

  • Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Mujhse Shaadi Karogi(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Chor Machaaye Shor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Yeh Hai Jalwa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Editor

  • Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin(2002)

    Director · Editor

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta(2001)

    Director · Editor · Story

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Jodi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Editor

  • Kunwara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Chal Mere Bhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Editor

  • Haseena Maan Jaayegi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Biwi No. 1(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Bade Miyan Chote Miyan(1998)

    Director · as Himself

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Gharwali Baharwali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Deewana Mastana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Banarasi Babu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Hero No. 1(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Judwaa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Loafer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Saajan Chale Sasural (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Yaraana(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Coolie No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Pokiri Raja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Story

  • Eena Meena Deeka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Andaz(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Raja Babu(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Aankhen(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Bol Radha Bol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Shola Aur Shabnam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Aandhiyan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Swarg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Editor

  • Aag Ka Gola (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • Jurrat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Editor

  • Gola Barood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Editor

  • Taaqatwar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Editor · Scenario Writer

  • Hum Farishte Nahin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Editor

  • Naam O Nishan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Editor

  • Saveray Wali Gaadi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Editor

  • Farishta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Editor

  • Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Editor

  • Saath Saath(1982)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Love Story(1981)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Saajan Ki Saheli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Editor

  • Biwi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

  • Shaadi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 56 titles, 54 of them dated from 1980 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Judwaa 2 (2017)

$29M worldwide

Highest rated

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)

Midcredits 72nd

Most popular right now

Biwi No. 1 (1999)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing47 of 56: 35 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score35thWriting6 of 56: 1 only writing, 5 with another roleEditing16 of 56: 8 only editing, 8 with another role

56 titles, 12 with more than one role — directing and editing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1980s12 · crew1990s22 · crew2000s14 · crew2010s4 · crew2020s2 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do David Dhawan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 37th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 16 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 16 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director

Coolie No. 1 (2020)

99th percentile spread · 66% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · editor

Saath Saath (1982)

Midcredits 86th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 57/100 and the pacing 48/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is David Dhawan's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 45 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does David Dhawan work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Dhawan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rumi Jaffery shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers