**Nanda Kishore** (born 29 March 1981) is a prominent Indian film director and screenwriter who works primarily in Kannada cinema. Known for his keen pulse on the masses, he has carved a niche for himself by delivering highly successful commercial entertainers, family dramas, and blockbuster remakes. Born in Sagara, Karnataka, he comes from a family deeply rooted in the Sandalwood industry. He is the son of the late veteran Kannada character actor Sudhir, who was famous for his villainous roles, and his younger brother, Tharun Kishore Sudhir, is also a highly successful film director and actor. Before establishing himself as a top-tier filmmaker, Nanda Kishore gained widespread media attention for his inspiring personal journey, overcoming severe obesity by losing over 76 kg to pursue his cinematic ambitions. He made a spectacular directorial debut with the 2013 comedy film *Victory*, starring Sharan. The film was an enormous commercial success and instantly established him as a highly bankable director. He immediately followed it up with another massive blockbuster hit, *Adyaksha* (2014), once again collaborating with Sharan to deliver a rural comedy that resonated deeply with Kannada audiences. Continuing his successful streak, Nanda Kishore proved his ability to handle major stars and big-budget productions. He directed superstar Kiccha Sudeepa in the blockbuster family drama *Ranna* (2015) and the acclaimed multi-starrer *Mukunda Murari* (2016), co-starring Upendra. He further cemented his reputation as a master of mass cinema with the high-voltage action drama *Pogaru* (2021), starring Dhruva Sarja, which achieved immense box-office success. A unique signature of his filmmaking is his tradition of making brief cameo appearances in the popular dance numbers or title tracks of his own movies. After a decade of commercial dominance in Kannada cinema, he recently expanded his horizons to pan-Indian projects, helming the highly anticipated Malayalam-Telugu bilingual epic *Vrushabha*, starring legendary actor Mohanlal.
