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Anil Sharma (Director) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth7 March 1960

Age65 Years

BirthplaceMathura, Uttar Pradesh

ProfessionDirector, Producer, Writer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSuman Sharma

FamilyChildren - Son: Utkarsh Sharma; Daughter: Kairvina

Anil Sharma (Director) Biography

Anil Sharma is an Indian filmmaker from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, known for directing major Bollywood hits including Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) and Apne (

Early life and background

Anil Sharma was born on 7 March 1960 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Raised in a family with roots in traditional astrology and storytelling, he spent his childhood in Mathura before moving to Mumbai at 17 after completing his schooling. He attended Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Mumbai and holds a Bachelor of Science degree. From an early age he was drawn to narrative and performance—engaging in theatre, poetry and radio writing while he was a student.

Career

Sharma entered the Hindi film industry as an assistant director at 18, working under director B.R. Chopra on films such as Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978), The Burning Train (1980) and Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980). He made his directorial debut with Shradhanjali in 1980, a film that brought him early recognition. Through the 1980s and 1990s he directed a string of mainstream commercial films, including Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983), Hukumat (1987), Elaan-E-Jung (1989), Farishtay (1991), Tahalka (1992) and Maharaja (1998).

In 2001 Sharma directed Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, starring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel. The film proved to be a major commercial success and established itself as one of the biggest Hindi-language blockbusters of its era. Following that, Sharma continued to work on large-scale productions: The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003), which introduced Priyanka Chopra; Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004), notable for its patriotic theme and an ensemble that included Amitabh Bachchan; and Apne (2007), which brought together three members of the Deol family on screen.

Sharma has also produced and written for many of his films. His production credits include titles such as Shradhanjali, Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka, Hukumat, Elaan-E-Jung, Tahalka, Maa (1992), Faisla Main Karungi (1995), Policewala Gunda (1995), Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004), Singh Saab the Great (2013) and Genius (2018). He is credited as a writer on several of the same projects, including Farishtay and Genius.

In 2010 he directed Veer, a large-scale action drama, and later Singh Saab the Great (2013). In 2018 he directed Genius, which featured his son Utkarsh Sharma in the lead role; Utkarsh had previously appeared as a child artist in Gadar (2001). Sharma has also worked outside feature films, directing a music video in 2018 and directing four episodes of the web series Julie in 2019.

In 2023 Sharma returned to the world of Gadar with a sequel featuring Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma. Gadar 2 opened strongly at the box office and posted substantial global collections in its initial days. Sharma has spoken publicly about the film’s reception and the audience response he experienced as a member of the cinema-going public. He has also indicated work on a sequel to his 2007 film Apne.

Public profile

Anil Sharma is identified with a commercial, mass-appeal style of filmmaking. Several of his films have aimed for broad family and patriotic themes, and his career includes collaborations with major Hindi film stars across multiple generations. Over the years he has been involved in high-profile launches and casting decisions, including providing early opportunities to actors who later went on to larger careers.

Sharma’s family life has sometimes intersected with his professional work: his son Utkarsh has appeared in films directed by him, and the three generations of the Deol family have figured in his projects. He is married to Suman Sharma (married 20 February 1992) and they have two children, son Utkarsh and daughter Kairvina.

Latest updates

In 2023 Sharma directed Gadar 2, which reunited the principal cast from the original film and performed strongly at the box office around its opening. He has publicly commented on the film’s surprising scale of success and on aspects of its production. As of 2023 he was also reported to be developing a sequel to Apne.

Personal details

Anil Sharma is of Indian nationality and follows Hinduism. His birthplace and hometown are noted as Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Physical characteristics listed in public profiles include a height of approximately 170 cm and black hair and eyes. His parents are named Kishan Chandra Sharma (father, deceased) and Bimla Sharma (mother, deceased). He grew up in a household with a grandfather who practised as an astrologer, an influence he has often recalled in interviews.

Career notes and anecdotes

Sharma has recounted early personal anecdotes about cinema that influenced his career choice, including an early memory of seeing actor Dharmendra on screen. He has described moments of both criticism and acclaim during his career, including strong critical and commercial responses to his biggest hits and public discussions around production matters during later projects.
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Recent Work

Gadar 2

Sequel to Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) reuniting Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma; opened strongly at the box office in 2023.

2023
Genius

2018 film that launched his son Utkarsh Sharma as a lead actor; filmed in Mathura.

2018
Julie (web series)

Directed four episodes of the web series in 2019.

2019
Dil Meri Na Sune (music video)

Directed the music video for the song released in 2018.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. Directed Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), one of the biggest Hindi blockbusters of its era
  2. Directed Apne (2007), featuring three generations of the Deol family
  3. Started as assistant director to B.R. Chopra and made directorial debut with Shradhanjali (1980)
  4. Has worked as director, producer and writer across multiple mainstream Hindi films
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anil Sharma (Director) born?

7 March 1960

What is Anil Sharma (Director) known for?

Director, Producer, Writer

What is Anil Sharma (Director)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Anil Sharma (Director) married to?

Suman Sharma