Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an Indian filmmaker, director, screenwriter, and music composer who is known for his work in Hindi cinema. He was born on 24th February 1963 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India to Navin and Leela Bhansali. Her mother used to sew clothes to make ends meet. He has a sister, Bela Segal. He studied at the Film and Television Institute of India.
Sanjay began his career as an assistant to Vidhu Vinod Chopra and was involved in the making of 1942: A Love Story, Parinda.
Sanjay made his directional debut in 1996 with Khamoshi: The Musical. He also wrote and produced the film. The film was critically acclaimed and won Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics). In 1999, he directed his second film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Another hit and highly acclaimed movie by Sanjay. The film won numerous awards including 4 National Awards and 9 Filmfare Awards. His third film Devdas released in 2002. The film received several positive reviews and was critically acclaimed. The film won 10 awards at Filmfare, 5 awards including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. It received a nomination for the Best Foreign Film at the British Academy of Film & Television Awards (BAFTA).
Later, in 2005, he directed his fourth film, Black. Another success. The film won 11 awards at Filmfare. He also won his second National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Sawariya was his fifth film, released in 2007. In 2010, Sanjay released his sixth film, Guzaarish. He also made his debut in music direction with the film. For the film, he earned a Best Director nomination at Filmfare. In 2011 and 2012, he worked as a writer in three films, My Friend Pinto, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi and Rowdy Rathore. He also produced the film, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi. Sanjay released his seventh film, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela in 2013. The film was highly acclaimed and he won several nominations for his work. He also worked as a music director and editor in the film. In 2014, Sanjay produced the film Mary Kom. The film received various accolades including a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Film. Bhansali received another National Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for the film.
Next, in 2015, Sanjay produced another film, Gabbar Is Back. He released his eighth film, Bajirao Mastani that year. Not only in India, but the film also received critical acclamation from all over the world. Bajirao Mastani won 7 National Film Awards and Bhansali won the National Award for Best Director, in addition to winning Best Film and Best Director at Filmfare. In 2016, he produced the Marathi film Laal Ishq. In 2018, Sanjay made his ninth film, Padmaavat. The film is also written by him and he also worked as a music composer for the film. This was a masterpiece by Sanjay which helped him earn the National Film Award for Best Music Direction and the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, in addition to Best Film and Best Director nominations at Filmfare. In 2019, he produced another film, Malaal. In 2022, Sanjay released his tenth film, Gangubai Kathiawadi. He also wrote the film and worked as an editor and music composer for the film. The film was highly praised.
Sanjay has an upcoming web series Heeramandi.
He made his television debut in 2006 as a judge in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. In 2011, he served as a judge in another television show, X Factor India. In 2013, he produced a television show, Saraswatichandra.
He also directed the stage opera Padmavati in 2008.
In 2015, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award.
He was engaged with Vaibhavi Merchant and separated later.
Name | Sanjay Leela Bhansali |
Nick Name | Sanjay |
Profession | Film Director, Producer, Music Director, Screenwriter |
Date of Birth | 24 February 1963 |
Age | 59 Years (2022) |
Birth Place | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
School | Not Known |
Collage | Film and Television Institute of India, Pune |
Debut | Film (Director): Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) Film (Music Director): Guzaarish (2010) TV Debut (As a Judge): Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa Season 1 (2006) |
Religion | Hinduism |
Caste | Kshatriya (Solanki) |
Zodiac Sign | Pisces |

Sanjay Leela Bhansali Career
- Sanjay began his career as an assistant to Vidhu Vinod Chopra and was involved in the making of 1942: A Love Story, Parinda.
- Sanjay made his directional debut in 1996 with Khamoshi: The Musical. He also wrote and produced the film.
- In 1999, he directed his second film, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.
- His third film Devdas released in 2002.
- In 2005, he directed his fourth film, Black.
- Sawariya was his fifth film, released in 2007.
- In 2010, Sanjay released his sixth film, Guzaarish. He also made his debut in music direction with the film.
- In 2011 and 2012, he worked as a writer in three films, My Friend Pinto, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi and Rowdy Rathore. He also produced the film, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi.
- Sanjay released his seventh film, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela in 2013. He also worked as a music director and editor in the film.
- In 2014, Sanjay produced the film Mary Kom.
- In 2015, Sanjay produced another film, Gabbar Is Back. He released his eighth film, Bajirao Mastani that year.
- In 2016, he produced the Marathi film Laal Ishq.
- In 2018, Sanjay made his ninth film, Padmaavat. The film is also written by him and he also worked as a music composer for the film.
- In 2019, he produced another film, Malaal.
- In 2022, Sanjay released his tenth film, Gangubai Kathiawadi. He also wrote the film and worked as an editor and music composer for the film.
- He made his television debut in 2006 as a judge in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. In 2011, he served as a judge in another television show, X Factor India. In 2013, he produced a television show, Saraswatichandra.
- He also directed the stage opera Padmavati in 2008.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali Family
Father Name | Navin Bhansali (Film Producer) |
Mother Name | Leela Bhansali (used to stitch clothes) |
Brother | N/A |
Sister | Bela Segal |
Wife | None |
Sanjay Leela Bhansali Relationship / Marital Status & Many More
Marital Status | Unmarried |
Affairs / Girlfriend | Vaibhavi Merchant, Choreographer (Ex-fiancee) |
Wife/ Spouse | N/A |
Marriage date | N/A |
Marriage Place | N/A |
Children | N/A |

Sanjay Leela Bhansali Physical Stats
Height | In Centimeter – 165 cm In Meter – 1.65 m In feet & inches – 5’5 |
Weight | In Kilogram- 54 Kg In Pounds – 119lbs |
Eye Color | Black |
Hair Color | Brown |
Sanjay Leela Bhansali Favourite
Favourite Actor | Dada Kondke, Dilip Kumar |
Favourite Actress | Helen, Madhuri Dixit |
Favourite Musician | A. R. Rahman |
Favourite Song | Mor Bani Thanghat Kare (Gujarati Folk Song) |
Favorite Movie | Bollywood: Mughal-E-Azam (1960) Hollywood: Ship of Theseus (2012) |
Favourite Cuisine | Indian Food |
Favourite Color | Black |
Favourite Sport | Cricket |
Favorite Destination | India |
Sanjay Leela Bhansali Education
School | Not Known |
Collage | Film and Television Institute of India, Pune |
Educational Qualification | Course in Editing |
Sanjay Leela Bhansali Net Worth
Net Worth | N/A |
Salary | N/A |
Income Source | N/A |
Car Collection | N/A |
Some Unknown facts about Sanjay Leela Bhansali
- His film Devdas won 10 awards at Filmfare, emerging as the most-awarded film in Filmfare, (tying with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)).
- He broke his record of Devdas by garnering 11 awards, the highest number of awards ever given to a single film at Filmfare for Black.
- His stage opera Padmavati received “fifteen minutes of standing ovation and seven curtain calls at the end of the first show” in Paris.
- His height is 5 feet 9 inches and his weight is 75 kgs.
- Sanjay spends his free time reading poetry and listening to vintage music.
- Mughal E-Azam is his all-time favorite movie.
- Stars were now completely on Bhansali’s side as his next movie, Devdas, became the ‘highest-grossing film of 2002.’