Shakun Batra

Indian director Shakun Patra spent time apprenticing with other noted directors before getting his chance to direct the hit romantic comedy "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu." Batra's first recorded credit came as an assistant editor on the Canadian short film "Alone with the Devil" in 2006, which told the tale of the prince of darkness and a blues guitarist. Batra was also assistant to director Farhan Akhtar on the action comedy "Don," in which he also had a small cameo role, and worked as second unit director with Akhtar again on the short "Positive" in 2007. The next step for Batra was working as an assistant director to established Bollywood directors on feature films which he did in 2008 alongside Abbas Tyrewala on the lighthearted romantic film "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na" in 2008, which also featured the budding director in a memorable cameo role during the song "Papuu Can't Dance." The film starred Imran Khan, a friend of Batra's whom he would work with again on "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu." That same year Batra worked as assistant director to Abhishek Kapoor on the musical drama "Rock On!!," another popular success. Batra cast Khan and actress Kareena Kapoor for his directorial debut about a man and woman who get married to each other after a few too many drinks in Las Vegas. "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" proved to be a critical and popular success and was also co-written by Batra.