Neeraj Pandey

Neeraj Pandey (born 1973) is an Indian film director best known for his drama-thriller film, A Wednesday (2008), for which he won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director. His work on the film was highly praised by audiences as well as critics. He was nominated for "Best Director" category by Filmfare Awards. His second movie Special 26 (2013) has also been equally appreciated by the public and the critics.

Early life and education
He was born and brought up in a Bihari family in Kolkata. His father, who originally came from Bihar and worked for Bosch in Calcutta. Neeraj Pandey moved to New Delhi, where he graduated in English.

Career
He started his career working with Delhi-based 'Legacy Entertainment', a company started by the Dalmia group to make television programs where he learnt his film basics.

In 2000, he moved to Mumbai, here a friend got a grant to produce a documentary, and offered him the project. Soon he was making documentaries and ad films. Thereafter, he formed a production company, 'Quarter Inch Productions', along with a colleague Shital Bhatia, which made to make television programmes, ad films and documentaries. After which they formed, Friday Film Works, which was the original producer of his debut film, A Wednesday. Film's script was inspired by the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, and a lot of information in the film, was taken from the incidents that followed the bombings.

Currently, he has a plan to do a bengali film named Bhitu with bengal superstar Jeet.The film will be produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.

Awards

 * National Film Award
 * 2008: Best First Film of a Director: A Wednesday!
 * Star Screen Award
 * 2009
 * Best Film: A Wednesday!
 * Best Story: A Wednesday!
 * IIFA Awards
 * 2009
 * Best Story: A Wednesday!
 * IIFA Award for Best Dialogue: A Wednesday!