Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, music composer, and playback singer known for his work in Hindi cinema. He has received eight National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award for his contributions to the industry.

Bhardwaj began his career as a music composer and gained recognition for his compositions in films like "Maachis" (1996) and "Satya" (1998). He won the Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent for his work in "Maachis" and received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film "Godmother" (1999). Bhardwaj made his directorial debut with the children's film "Makdee" (2002), for which he also composed the music.

He gained critical acclaim and numerous accolades for his Indian adaptations of Shakespearean tragedies. His films "Maqbool" (2003), based on "Macbeth," "Omkara" (2006), based on "Othello," and "Haider" (2014), based on "Hamlet," showcased his talent as a writer and director. Bhardwaj's other directorial ventures include "Kaminey" (2009), "7 Khoon Maaf" (2011), and "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" (2013).

In addition to directing, Bhardwaj also produces films under his banner VB Pictures. He co-wrote and produced films like "Ishqiya" (2010), its sequel "Dedh Ishqiya" (2014), and the crime drama "Talvar" (2015). He frequently collaborates with lyricist Gulzar and composes the music for his own directorial and production ventures. Bhardwaj is married to playback singer Rekha Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj was born on August 4, 1965, in Chandpur, Uttar Pradesh. His father was a sugarcane inspector and a poet, while his mother was a homemaker. He grew up in Najibabad and later moved to Meerut. Bhardwaj initially pursued cricket but had to give it up due to an injury. He composed his first song at the age of seventeen, which was used in the film "Yaar Kasam" (1985). He studied at Hindu College, University of Delhi, where he met his wife Rekha Bhardwaj.

His interest in film direction developed after being inspired by films like Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" (1994) and Krzysztof Kieślowski's television series "Dekalog." Bhardwaj started his career in the industry as a harmonium player for ghazal singers and eventually moved to Mumbai to pursue a career as a music composer. Directing films provided him with the opportunity to compose music as well.

Vishal Bhardwaj has made significant contributions to Indian cinema, showcasing his versatility as a director, music composer, and writer. His unique storytelling style and ability to adapt classic works have earned him critical acclaim and a prominent place in the Hindi film industry.