It is fascinating to think that director Ayan Mukerji has been around at the movies for about fifteen years as a filmmaker. That is a long time to be present in an industry where careers are built and destroyed at lightning speed. Longevity is often a word reserved for seasoned auteurs or prolific craftsmen, but in Mukerji’s case the story is slightly different.
Because despite being in the arena for this long, he has directed only four movies. Even more interestingly, the first two came within a neat gap of just about three years, while the third one, his supposed magnum opus, consumed far more time and effort than anyone could have anticipated. Hurdles, delays and sheer ambition stretched that project beyond imagination. Which leaves us here, in 2025, still with only four films to his name.
This is not to say that Mukerji has not established himself. Quite the contrary. He has become one of the most promising voices of his generation, and despite being in the business for well over a decade, he is still only forty two years old. Time, as they say, is firmly on his side. One can be sure that his next phase will be defined by quicker and possibly bigger projects. Yet when we zoom into his slim but significant filmography, it becomes a fascinating exercise to rank his four films from worst to best. Which means the first film you read here is the weakest, and the final one is his finest work yet.
4. War 2 (2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjBym9uKth4&t=9sThe trainwreck that turned out to be War 2 is irreparable to a large extent. When the project was first announced, there was optimism that Mukerji’s arrival into the YRF Spy Universe would infuse a new kind of individuality and freshness. Director Siddharth Anand had already delivered the supremely entertaining War in 2019, and the sequel promised to build on that foundation. Add to it the much talked about entry of Jr. NTR into mainstream Bollywood and the film had every reason to inspire anticipation.
Unfortunately, the opposite happened. War 2 unfolded with a banal storyline and shoddy visual effects that drained away all the excitement. The grand promises quickly fizzled into disappointment, making the film an exhausting experience. For Mukerji, this outing remains his most recent and without question his weakest.
It is not that ambition itself was the problem. The attempt to make War 2 a blockbuster tentpole was valid. Yet the execution felt uninspired, with very little of Mukerji’s voice showing through. Perhaps this was the central tragedy of the film. When a director known for intimacy and emotional resonance enters the domain of a large scale actioner, the danger is that spectacle overwhelms storytelling. War 2 is a case study in that imbalance.
3. Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUjXzrgntcYIt feels almost unfair to place Brahmastra at the third position because of the sheer magnitude of what went into it. Mukerji gave nearly a decade of his life to this vision. He persisted through obstacles, skepticism and shifting industry landscapes, holding on to the idea of creating a grand universe of astras that Indian cinema had never attempted before. On the surface, this was everything a filmmaker dreams of. Scale, spectacle, world building and a canvas large enough to rival Hollywood blockbusters.
The final product carried plenty of moments to admire. The visual effects were not only ambitious but often commendable, with several sequences genuinely stunning on the big screen. The effort was visible. The scale was undeniable. And the idea of merging Indian mythology with a superhero-like narrative structure had its own intrigue.
However, Brahmastra also revealed the limits of ambition when it is not accompanied by tight narrative control. The story was scattered, leaving audiences alternating between curiosity and confusion. The dialogues were widely mocked for being unintentionally humorous. And there were passages of the film that simply felt misplaced. In the end, Brahmastra became a fascinating paradox. It was an admirable swing at grandeur but one that landed with mixed impact. For Mukerji, it demonstrated patience and persistence, but it also highlighted how unwieldy a project can become when vision runs far ahead of execution.
2. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbp2XUSeUNEThis is the film that continues to define an entire generation. Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani was more than just a coming of age tale. It was an entire lifestyle packaged into a movie. With its glamorous cast, relatable characters, memorable music and Mukerji’s ability to blend romance with humour, the film became an instant cultural touchstone.
To call it a cult classic is no exaggeration. The proof lies in how audiences still flock to theatres when it is re released, how dialogues are quoted in everyday conversations, and how its music continues to dominate playlists. Very few films manage to transcend their era and remain part of the cultural bloodstream. YJHD achieved that with ease.
For Mukerji, the film was the ultimate validation. His debut had already showcased his voice but YJHD was his leap into the big league. It confirmed that he could deliver a blockbuster without losing his sensibility. It also revealed his ability to capture the rhythm of contemporary urban youth, their aspirations, dilemmas and search for meaning. That mix of relatability and cinematic charm is what immortalised YJHD.
1. Wake Up Sid (2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngimy3GpHS0Mukerji’s debut remains, in many ways, his most complete and authentic work. Wake Up Sid is a near perfect coming of age story that felt simple on the surface but resonated deeply with anyone who has ever felt lost in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The film did not rely on grandeur or spectacle. Instead, it thrived on warmth, relatability and emotional truth.
Ranbir Kapoor’s journey as Sid, the clueless young man stumbling towards responsibility and self discovery, was executed with such charm that the film instantly became a warm embrace for its audience. Even today, more than fifteen years after its release, it retains that quality. The characters feel alive, the conflicts remain familiar, and the resolution feels uplifting without being simplistic.
For a debut, Wake Up Sid was a statement of intent. It signaled that Mukerji had an ear for dialogue, an eye for detail and a heart for characters. It is no surprise that many still consider it his best film. Sometimes a filmmaker’s first attempt remains their purest expression, untouched by the burdens of scale or expectation. For Mukerji, Wake Up Sid continues to stand as that purest work.
The Larger Question
At first glance it might appear that Mukerji’s graph has only declined since his debut. From the near perfect Wake Up Sid to the cultural juggernaut of YJHD, followed by the ambitious yet uneven Brahmastra and then the underwhelming War 2, one could argue that the journey has been a slide downward. But that conclusion would be unfair.
The truth is that as Mukerji’s ambition grew, so did the risks. Small scale stories about self discovery allowed him to display his strengths. Larger than life spectacles demanded a different set of muscles, where budgets, visual effects and global comparisons became part of the equation. The errors were therefore more visible, but so were the stakes.
What Lies Ahead for Ayan Mukerji
Which brings us to the big question. Where does Mukerji go from here. Will he double down on the Brahmastra universe and deliver the much teased Part Two Dev. Or will he recalibrate and return to the slice of life narratives that made us fall in love with his voice in the first place. Public opinion is already split. Many argue that his strongest domain is still the relatable coming of age or romance infused story, where his understanding of youth and relationships shines brightest. Others believe he must persist with large scale action and fantasy, and eventually find his footing there.
The answer will emerge only with his next projects. What is undeniable is that Mukerji, even with just four films, has created enough to warrant both debate and anticipation. His career so far is a reminder that a director’s journey is rarely linear. It zigzags, surprises, stumbles and soars. And if there is one certainty, it is that Mukerji has more stories to tell, whether intimate or epic.
Poll
Which is your favorite Ayan Mukerji film?
Ayan Mukerji has been in the industry for fifteen years yet his filmography counts only four titles. From the warmth of Wake Up Sid to the cult of Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, the ambitious chaos of Brahmastra and the collapse of War 2, his career is both puzzling and promising. Here is our ranking of his worst to best.