Director

Vinil Mathew

Vinil Mathew is one of those rare filmmakers who proved that the advertising world and feature films aren't that far apart. Born in Delhi in 1977, he trained at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India before building a formidable career directing commercials for heavyweight brands like Vodafone, Nescafe, and Cadbury. But it's his foray into feature filmmaking that really put him on the radar, with his romantic thriller Haseen Dillruba becoming a massive hit on Netflix in 2021 and cementing itself as the most-watched Hindi film on the platform that year. It's the kind of achievement that reminds you why some directors are worth watching. What makes Vinil Mathew stand out is his ability to bring that sharp, polished sensibility from advertising into storytelling that actually grips you. He's got a knack for blending thrills with emotional depth, and he doesn't shy away from exploring unconventional narratives in Bollywood. His work reflects a filmmaker who understands visual storytelling at its core and isn't afraid to take creative risks. With Haseen Dillruba's success, Mathew has shown that there's real appetite for content that doesn't fit neatly into predictable Bollywood boxes, making him one of the more interesting directors adding fresh energy to Hindi cinema.