David Dhawan

David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan on 16 August 1955 ) is an Indian film director who works in Hindi films. He is the father of Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan and director Rohit Dhawan. He is best known for directing several successful films, including Swarg (1990), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Judwaa (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Partner (2007), Chashme Baddoor (2013), Main Tera Hero (2014) and Judwaa 2 (2017). The 1993 action thriller Aankhen and 1999 comedy Biwi No.1 earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Director nominations.

Early life
David Dhawan was born in Agartala to a Punjabi Hindu family, but brought up in Kanpur where his father, who was a manager in UCO Bank, got transferred. He studied in Christ Church College and BNSD Inter College, till Class XII. He then joined Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) for acting, but seeing other actors like Satish Shah and Suresh Oberoi, realised that he cannot act. So he took up editing as an option. He belongs to Ludhiana in Punjab. His original name was 'Rajinder Dhawan' but when he was growing up, his neighbours, who were Christians, used to lovingly call him 'David,' and he officially changed it to David, when he got into the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

Career
Dhawan started off as an editor before moving into directing. He specialises in directing comedy films. His biggest success to date is 2017's Judwaa 2, starring his son Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu. His Partner (2007) also became a big success at the box office.

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. He was a judge on the Star Plus show Nach Baliye 3 in 2008 and on the show Hans Baliye.

Work with Govinda
Dhawan first teamed with actor Govinda for the film Taaqatwar (1989). He then formed a collaboration with Govinda and went on to direct 17 movies with him as the leading actor, most of which were comedy films. The films made by their collaboration are Taaqatwar (1989), Swarg (1990), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Aankhen (1993), Raja Babu (1994), Coolie No. 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Banarasi Babu (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Hero No. 1 (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), Kunwara (2000), Jodi No.1 (2001), Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), Partner (2007) and Do Knot Disturb (2009). Partner, which co-starred Salman Khan, grossed Rs. 300 Million in India on its opening week, the second highest domestic opening week gross for an Indian film at that time. The same year, Salman Khan invited Dhawan and Govinda on his show 10 Ka Dum to celebrate their film Partner. Dhawan got back to the trio of Govinda, Ritesh Deshmukh and himself with the film, Do Knot Disturb.

Personal life
Dhawan is married to Karuna Chopra and has two sons, Rohit Dhawan and Varun Dhawan. Dhawan's brother is actor Anil Dhawan and nephew is actor Siddharth Dhawan.