RITESH SIDHWANI

Ritesh Sidhwani stands as a pivotal force and co-founder of the groundbreaking film production house, aptly named Excel Entertainment. The debut film under his helm, Dil Chahta Hai, not only attained cult status for pioneering a new genre in Indian cinema but also secured a National Award in 2001. Sidhwani’s impact on the cinematic landscape is twofold; introducing global filmmaking techniques and perspectives to Indian audiences, while also ensuring the widespread appeal of Hindi films to international viewers. His professionalism and dedication were further recognized in 2008 when he won the National Award for the musical Rock On.

Over slightly more than a decade, Ritesh has played a crucial role in nurturing young talent by providing a platform in Excel for debutant directors, writers, and actors, fostering creative filmmaking. His diverse body of work, spanning over a dozen feature films, encompasses themes ranging from “coming of age” to fast-paced action thrillers. The essence of Excel’s success lies in the fusion of artistic treatment with commercial acumen, evident in box office hits like Dil Dhadakne Do, Talaash, Don 2, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and the recent Gully Boy (India’s first hip hop film).

Ritesh has taken his innovative spirit a step further by establishing an exclusive division under Excel Media & Entertainment to create original content for various digital platforms, transcending geographical boundaries and reaching larger audiences. Excel Entertainment’s initial foray into the digital realm resulted in India’s first original series, “Inside Edge,” on Amazon Prime Video, nominated for the International Emmy Awards 2018 in the Best Drama Series category. Following the success of Inside Edge, Amazon commissioned two more shows, Mirzapur and Made In Heaven, both earning critical acclaim and high viewership.  In 2023, the series, Dahaad and Bambai Meri Jaan premiered internationally in Berlin and London respectively. Dahaad brought home many awards including Asian Academy Creative Award for Best Actor, won by Vijay Varma. 

Ritesh has also been personally involved in the Dubai “Bollywood Parks” project, introducing experiential adventures featuring some of Excel’s film projects, allowing the audience to engage with larger-than-life moments. In his early years, Ritesh’s fascination with the film world clashed with his career at Marlex, his family’s home appliances company. After six years of enthusiastic learning and honing marketing and business development skills, he transitioned from marketing home appliances to establishing Excel Entertainment Private Limited in partnership with his long-time friend Farhan Akhtar, marking the beginning of a partnership that has consistently grown from strength to strength.

Filmography

  • Dil Chahta Hai (2001) – Producer 
  • Lakshya (2004) – Producer 
  • Don (2006) – Producer 
  • Honey Moon Travels Pvt Ltd (2007) – Producer 
  • Positive (2007) – Producer 
  • Rock On!! (2008) – Producer 
  • Luck By Chance (2009) – Producer 
  • Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) – Producer 
  • Game (2011) – Producer 
  • Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) – Producer 
  • Don 2 (2011) – Producer 
  • Talaash(2012) – Producer 
  • Fukrey(2013) – Producer 
  • Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) – Producer 
  • Bangistan (2015) – Producer 
  • Baar Baar Dekho (2016) – Producer 
  • Rock On 2 (2016) – Producer 
  • Raees (2016) – Producer 
  • Fukrey Returns (2018) – Producer 
  • 3 Storeys (2018) – Producer 
  • Gold (2018) –  Producer 
  • KGF Chapter 1 (2018) – Presented by
  • Gully Boy (2019) – Producer
  • Syeraa (2019) – Presented by
  • Hello Charlie (2021) – Producer
  • Toofaan (2021) – Producer
  • Sharmaji Namkeen (2022) – Producer
  • KGF 2 (2022) – Presented By
  • Phonebhoot (2022) – Producer
  • Fukrey 3 (2023) – Producer
  • Friday Night Plan (2023) – Producer
  • Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) – Producer
  • Madgaon Express (2024) – Producer
  • Agni (2024) – To Be Released
  • Yudhra (2024) – To Be Released
  • Ground Zero (2024)- To Be Released
  • Don 3 – To Be Released

Original Series 

  • Inside Edge (2017) – Executive Producer
  • Mirzapur (2018) – Executive Producer 
  • Made In Heaven (2019) – Executive Producer 
  • Inside Edge 2 (2019) – Executive Producer
  • Mirzapur 2 (2020) – Executive Producer
  • Inside Edge 3 (2021) – Executive Producer
  • Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (2022) – Executive Producer
  • Dahaad (2023) – Executive Producer
  • Made In Heaven 2 (2023) – Executive Producer
  • Bambai Meri Jaan (2023) – Executive Producer
  • Mirzapur 3 (2024)- To Be Released
  • Andhera (2024) – To Be Released
  • Dabba Cartel (2024) – To Be Released