Director

Kireet Khurana

Kireet Khurana is a filmmaker who's basically put Indian animation on the map. Born and raised in Bombay, he's racked up six President's National Film Awards—a seriously impressive haul that speaks to his mastery of the craft. Taking the reins of Climb Media (a company his legendary filmmaker father Bhimsain started back in the 70s), Khurana has built a career that spans feature films, documentaries, and over 500 ad films. He's been doing this since the mid-90s, and his work has consistently pushed boundaries in the Indian film industry. What sets Khurana apart is his fearless blend of animation, visual storytelling, and innovative filmmaking. He's not just making content—he's building the infrastructure for Indian animation itself, evident in his role as Festival Director of Animela, the country's premier fest for animation, VFX, gaming, and comics (which he co-created with the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France). His work reflects a deep understanding of both commercial and artistic cinema, making him one of Bollywood's most forward-thinking directors who refuses to be boxed into a single genre or medium.