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.
- August 16, 1960 (66)
- Agartala, Tripura, India
- Director, editor and writer
- 16 on MovieCove · 56 credits in all
What are David Dhawan's films like?
Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 3 · Earnest 12
Light 12 · Serious 2 · Dark 1
Grounded 2 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 5
Gentle 5 · Charged 9 · Intense 1
Steady 4 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 3
Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 11
Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 0
Casual 12 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 11 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 1
Resolved 15 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- 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).
- ZEE5
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)
Coolie No. 1(2020)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Judwaa 2(2017)
Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
Main Tera Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Chashme Baddoor(2013)
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
Rascals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Do Knot Disturb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Partner(2007)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Shaadi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi(2004)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Chor Machaaye Shor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Yeh Hai Jalwa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin(2002)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
Jodi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Kunwara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Chal Mere Bhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Haseena Maan Jaayegi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Biwi No. 1(1999)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan(1998)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Gharwali Baharwali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Deewana Mastana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Banarasi Babu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Hero No. 1(1997)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Judwaa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Loafer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Saajan Chale Sasural (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Yaraana(1995)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Coolie No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Pokiri Raja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Eena Meena Deeka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Andaz(1994)
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Raja Babu(1994)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Aankhen(1993)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Bol Radha Bol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Shola Aur Shabnam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Aandhiyan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Swarg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Aag Ka Gola (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Jurrat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Gola Barood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Taaqatwar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Hum Farishte Nahin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Naam O Nishan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Saveray Wali Gaadi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Farishta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Saath Saath(1982)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Love Story(1981)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Saajan Ki Saheli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Biwi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Shaadi No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
A full career of 56 titles, 54 of them dated from 1980 to 2026.
Biggest box office
Judwaa 2 (2017)
Highest rated
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
Most popular right now
Biwi No. 1 (1999)
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.
- 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
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.
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
- Rumi JafferyShared titles: Coolie No. 1 (2020), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (2002), Biwi No. 1 (1999), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Hero No. 1 (1997)See all 6 shared titles with Rumi Jaffery
- Anees BazmeeShared titles: Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Andaz (1994), Raja Babu (1994), Aankhen (1993)See all 4 shared titles with Anees Bazmee
- Farhad SamjiShared titles: Coolie No. 1 (2020), Chashme Baddoor (2013)See all 2 shared titles with Farhad Samji
- Yunus SajawalShared titles: Partner (2007), Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001)See all 2 shared titles with Yunus Sajawal
Actors
- GovindaShared titles: Partner (2007), Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Hero No. 1 (1997), Raja Babu (1994), Aankhen (1993)See all 6 shared titles with Govinda
- Kader KhanShared titles: Hero No. 1 (1997), Yaraana (1995), Andaz (1994), Raja Babu (1994), Aankhen (1993)See all 5 shared titles with Kader Khan
- Shakti KapoorShared titles: Hero No. 1 (1997), Yaraana (1995), Andaz (1994), Raja Babu (1994), Aankhen (1993)See all 5 shared titles with Shakti Kapoor
- Paresh RawalShared titles: Coolie No. 1 (2020), Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (2002), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Hero No. 1 (1997)See all 4 shared titles with Paresh Rawal
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- A. MuthuShared titles: Biwi No. 1 (1999), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Hero No. 1 (1997), Yaraana (1995), Raja Babu (1994)See all 5 shared titles with A. Muthu
- Anu MalikShared titles: Judwaa 2 (2017), Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (2002), Biwi No. 1 (1999), Yaraana (1995)See all 4 shared titles with Anu Malik
- Sajid AliShared titles: Judwaa 2 (2017), Chashme Baddoor (2013), Partner (2007), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)See all 4 shared titles with Sajid Ali
- K.S. Prakash RaoShared titles: Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001), Biwi No. 1 (1999), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Hero No. 1 (1997)See all 4 shared titles with K.S. Prakash Rao
Producers
- Vashu BhagnaniShared titles: Coolie No. 1 (2020), Biwi No. 1 (1999), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Hero No. 1 (1997)See all 4 shared titles with Vashu Bhagnani
- Sajid NadiadwalaShared titles: Judwaa 2 (2017), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)See all 2 shared titles with Sajid Nadiadwala
- Prakash PangeShared titles: Chashme Baddoor (2013), Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001)See all 2 shared titles with Prakash Pange
- Dinesh SethiShared titles: Partner (2007), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)See all 2 shared titles with Dinesh Sethi