Puneet Sira is a British and

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

feature film director and producer who formed The Foundry which is actively developing and producing films. His tenure at BBC Films launched his career as director, writer and producer. Since then, he's been the executive producer of Channel for the Star TV Network. He's produced and directed several dramas for television and feature films including ''

I - Proud To Be An Indian I, or i, is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''i'' (pronounced ), plural ...

'' (2004), ''

Jai Veeru ''Jai Veeru'' is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language action film directed by Puneet Sira, starring Fardeen Khan, Kunal Khemu, Anjana Sukhani, Dia Mirza and Arbaaz Khan. The film was released on 13 March 2009. Plot Veer "Veeru" Sharma is a small-time ...

'' (2009) and ''

Kisaan ''Kisaan'' () is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Puneet Sira, starring Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Jackie Shroff, Dia Mirza and Nauheed Cyrusi. Released on 28 August 2009 to praise for Sohail Khan's performance but cr ...

, (2009) for which he received a Best Director honor.

Virat Kohli Virat Kohli (; born 5 November 1988) is an Indian international cricketer and former captain of the India national cricket team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Kohli plays as a right-handed Batting (cricket), batte ...

's ''

Super V ''Super V'' is an Indian animated television series loosely based on Virat Kohli and was created by Harman Baweja for Star India. It was launched on multiple Star Network and Disney India's channels from 5 November 2019. Plot Super V is the st ...

'' (2019), a Superhero animation series, directed by Puneet for

Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...

Marvel HQ Super Hungama is an Indian pay television channel owned by Disney Star, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India. It airs primarily children's animated series and is a direct sister channel to Hungama TV. It was launched as ...

, Star TV Network, Hotstar and

Baweja Movies Baweja Movies Pvt Ltd, is a company which was formed by Director Harry Baweja along with his wife producer Pammi Baweja. Their early productions are under SP Creations and Baweja Art Productions banner. Its first production was Trinetra ''Tri ...

is the highest rated show in the animation bracket in India.

Biography

Early career

Sira started his career as an actor in the UK at the age of nine as a beggar boy in ''

Annie Besant Annie Besant ( Wood; 1 October 1847 – 20 September 1933) was a British socialist, theosophist, freemason, women's rights activist, educationist, writer, orator, political party member and philanthropist. Regarded as a champion of human f ...

'', ''The Warrior's Return''(1977) as part of ''The Velvet Glove'' series for the

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

, directed by

Philip Saville Philip Saville (28 October 1927 – 22 December 2016) was a British director, screenwriter and former actor whose career lasted half a century. The British Film Institute's Screenonline website described Saville as "one of Britain's most prolifi ...

. Puneet went on to play in the feature film ''

Arabian Adventure ''Arabian Adventure'' is a 1979 British fantasy adventure film directed by Kevin Connor and starring Christopher Lee and Oliver Tobias. The film was shot at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, U.K. Premise An evil caliph (Christopher Lee) offer ...

''(1979). He played the lead role of Majeed, directed by Kevin Connor. In the same year Puneet played Kasava Minor in the

series ''

To Serve Them All My Days : ''For the 1980 television adaptation, see To Serve Them All My Days (TV series).'' ''To Serve Them All My Days'' is a novel by British author R. F. Delderfield. First published in 1972, the book was adapted for television in 1980. It has b ...

'' (1979). In 1980 Sira was the youngest member to participate in '' Comex 10'', a commonwealth expedition sponsored by

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021) was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he served as the consort of the British monarch from El ...

. Founded by Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Gregory, OBE, ''Comex 10'' was an expedition where 40 artistes from all commonwealth countries toured India performing variety acts in every city visited. More acting work followed from '' How We Used to Live''( Yorkshire Television), ''Why Couples Break Up'' ( Yorkshire Television), '' London's Burning'' ( London Weekend Television), ''The Moneymen'' ( London Weekend Television), ''The Park'' (Regent Productions), ''The Betrothed'' (LIFS) and the highly acclaimed Walkers Poppadoms Commercial, ''The Rocking Sikh'' directed by Paul Weiland.

Film-making career

Sira became an assistant director at BBC Films Department on films such as ''Hallelujah Anyhow''(1991) (Screen Two) starring Keith David, ''Sweet Nothing''(1990) (Screen One) and ''Can You Hear Me Thinking?''(1991) starring

Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Regarded as one of Britain's best actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her ...

. He freelanced on ''Flying Colors'' (1993), ''Memsahib Rita'' (1994), ''Blue Baby'' (1994) before venturing into directing his own films like ''Strings'' (1996) which he also wrote and produced. Sira was the director of the London Academy of Acting (a school founded by his father, Gurdial Sira in 1970), where he would teach acting for film. He set up an actors' agency, Talent Introduction Centre (T.I.C.), where he provided work for Asian actors in the UK. Casting director was another title to Sira's credit: films such as '' Jinnah'' (1998) starring

Christoper Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...

, ''Flight''(1992) (BBC Screen One), directed by Alex Pillai, '' Immaculate Conception'' (1992) directed by Jamil Dehlavi, ''Memsahib Rita'' (1994) and '' Frantz Fanon'' – ''Black Skin, White Mask'' (1996) directed by Isaac Julien. On the American feature film ''

Passion in the Desert ''Passion in the Desert'', or ''Simoom: A Passion in the Desert'', is a 1997 film from director Lavinia Currier based on the 1830 short story " A Passion in the Desert" by Honoré de Balzac. The film follows the ventures of a young French officer n ...

'' (1997) Sira worked on production. Sira lectured on basic film making at

Middlesex University Middlesex University London (legally Middlesex University and abbreviated MDX) is a public research university in Hendon, northwest London, England. The name of the university is taken from its location within the historic county boundaries ...

and Italia Conti Acting Academy as a visiting lecturer. In 1998, Sira became the executive producer for

Rupert Murdoch Keith Rupert Murdoch ( ; born 11 March 1931) is an Australian-born American business magnate. Through his company News Corp, he is the owner of hundreds of local, national, and international publishing outlets around the world, including ...

's ''

Channel V Channel '' ("V" standing for the letter, not the Roman numeral "5") is a Chinese and former Asian pay television musical network originally launched by Star TV Hong Kong (now Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific). It was part of the unit of Disney ...

'', ( STAR TV), producing more than 22 television shows for the channel in Mumbai. He went on to produce and direct drama for television ''

The Steal The Steal were an English hardcore punk band, from Kingston upon Thames and Brighton. History They formed in late 2005, and were influenced by Minor Threat, 7 Seconds (band), 7 Seconds and Kid Dynamite (band), Kid Dynamite. In 2006 they compl ...

'' (2000) STAR TV, followed by ''Sanatta'' (2001) and '' Jataka Tales'' (2002) for Japanese television which Sira directed and produced with his partner

Vikram Dhillon Vikram Dhillon is an Indo-Canadian Feature Film Producer, Director, Actor and a former VJ for Channel V (Star TV India) Biography Career Vikram Dhillon is a Co-Founder of the newly formed Digital Content Studio The Foundry with his partner Pu ...

. Sira went on to direct the feature films ''

'' (2004), ''

'' (2009) and ''

'' (2009). As a screenwriter Sira wrote ''

'' with

Vekeana Dhillon Vekeana Dhillon is a screenwriter, series creator, playwright, television presenter, radio presenter and actress. Early life and education She was born in New Delhi, India and later her family migrated to Toronto, Canada. Raised in Alberta, Cana ...

. Together they have written the screenplay for the feature film ''

Kurbani ''Qurbanī'' ( ar, قربانى), ''Qurban'', or ''uḍḥiyah'' () as referred to in Islamic law, is a ritual animal sacrifice of a livestock animal during Eid al-Adha. The concept and definition of the word is derived from the Qur'an, the sa ...

'' for

Feroz Khan Feroz Khan or Feroze Khan may refer to: * Feroz Khan (actor) (1939–2009), Indian actor and film director * Feroz Khan Noon (1893–1970), Pakistani politician and 8th Prime Minister of Pakistan * Feroze Khan (born 1990), Pakistani VJ, television ...

(FK International) and '' Spiceboy'' for

Miracle Films Miracle Films (later to become 'Miracle Communications' in a development of the family business) was a film distributor based in the United Kingdom. The publicity manager of this studio, when it began in the 1950s, was British filmmaker Tony Tens ...

. Sira had written ''

'' and ''Sanatta''. Sira and

are partners in The Foundry, a production company which has developed several feature films as well as several IP for the major OTT platforms globally

Filmography

, 1999 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Li Video Requests , 1999 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Flashback , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , First Day First Show , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Maang Ta Hai , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , By Demand , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Flashback , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , OYE , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , House Arrest , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Rewind , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Speak Easy , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , The Ticket , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Soul Curry , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , House of Noise , 1998 , Executive Producer , Television , Channel V (Star TV) , , - , Jinnah , 1998 , Casting Director , Feature Film , Petra Films (UK) , Dir: Jamil Dehlavi , - , Strings , 1997 , Director / Producer / Writer , Film , Global Pictures (UK) , , - ,

Passion In The Desert ''Passion in the Desert'', or ''Simoom: A Passion in the Desert'', is a 1997 film from director Lavinia Currier based on the 1830 short story " A Passion in the Desert" by Honoré de Balzac. The film follows the ventures of a young French officer n ...

, 1997 , Production Secretary , Feature Film , Roland Films (UK) , Dir: Lavinia Currier , - , World Beach Volleyball Championship , 1996 , Director , Sports Television , ESPN / Procam Sports , , - , Last Cloud on Margalla Hils , 1996 , Director , Theatre , Oval House Theatre (UK) , , - , Franz Fannon – Black Skin White Mask , 1996 , Casting Director , Television , BBC / Normal Films , Dir: Issac Julien , - , Flight , 1996 , Casting Director , Feature Film , BBC Films / Hindi Pictures , Dir: Alex Pillai , - , Memsahib Rita , 1994 , Assistant Director , Film , BBC Films /

Leda Serene Films Leda Serene Films is a film, television, and theatre production company based in Toronto, Canada, owned by filmmaker and producer Frances-Anne Solomon. The company has produced award-winning cross-platform projects from feature films, and creativ ...

, Dir:

Pratibha Parmar Pratibha Parmar is a British writer and filmmaker. She has made feminist documentaries such as '' Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth'' and ''My Name is Andrea'' about Andrea Dworkin. Early life Parmar was born in Nairobi, Kenya to Indian parents and ...

, - , Flying Colours , 1993 , Casting Director / Assistant Director , Film , N.F.T.S. , Dir: Alex Pillai , - , Blue Baby , 1993 , Assistant Director , Film , N.F.T.S. , , - , Immaculate Conception , 1992 , Casting Director , Feature Film , Dehlavi Films (UK) , Dir: Jamil Dehlavi , - , Day Twelve , 1991 , Director / Writer / Producer , Short Film , CBFW , Clapham & Battersea Film Festival , - , Hallelujah Anyhow , 1991 , Assistant Director , Feature Film , BBC Films , Dir:

Matthew Jacobs Matthew Jacobs (born 1 July 1956) is a British writer, director, producer and actor. He is known best for his extensive career writing for television shows like ''Doctor Who'' and ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles''. He also directed two pri ...

, - , Can You Hear Me Thinking? , 1990 , Assistant Director , Feature Film , BBC Films , Dir: Christopher Morahan , - , Sweet Nothing , 1990 , Assistant Director , Feature Film , BBC Films , Dir: Tony Smith , - , Dec 14 , 1990 , Director / Writer / Producer , Short Film , CBFW , Clapham & Battersea Film Festival , - , The Betrothed , 1990 , "Arjun" Actor , Film , L.I.F.S. , , - , The Paradise Club , 1989 , "Elvis" Actor , Television , Zenith Entertainment , Dir: Murray Smith , - , Why Couples Break Up , 1989 , "Lover" Actor , Television , Yorkshire Television , , - ,

Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Para ...

, 1988 , Self , Television , US Television , , - , Night Network , 1988 , Self , Television , London Weekend Television , , - , The Rocking Sikh , 1988 , "Rocking Sikh" Actor , Commercial , The Weiland Company , Dir: Paul Weiland , - , London's Burning , 1988 , "Indian Waiter" Actor , Television , London Weekend Television , Dir: John Reardon , - , The Money Men , 1987 , "Dealer" Actor , TV Movie , London Weekend Television , Dir: John Bruce , - , How We Used To Live , 1987 , "Sanjay" Actor , Television , Yorkshire Television , , - , Comex 10 , 1980 , Variety Act , Theatre ,

Commonwealth Expedition The Commonwealth Expedition or Comex started in 1965 as an expedition from Britain to India in support of the multicultural ideals of what was then called the British Commonwealth. The idea was conceived by Lt Colonel Lionel Gregory, OBE, late ...

, Dir: Colonel Lionel Gregory Sponsored by: The Duke of Edinburgh - Prince Philip , - ,

, 1980 , "Kasava Minor" Actor , Television , BBC Series , Dir: Ronald Wilson , - ,

, 1979 , "Majeed" Actor , Feature Film , EMI / Badger Films , Dir: Kevin Connor , - , The Four Feathers , 1978 , "Arab Boy" Voice (Uncredited) , Feature Film , Trident Films , Dir:

Don Sharp Donald Herman Sharp (19 April 192114 December 2011) was an Australian film director. His best known films were made for Hammer Film Productions, Hammer in the 1960s, and included ''The Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963) and ''Rasputin, the Mad Monk' ...

, - , The Velvet Glove – Warriors Return , 1977 , "Indian Boy" Actor , Television , BBC Series , Dir:

Awards

SAFF Awards: *2009: SAFF Award for Direction (''

'')

References

External links

* *
I Proud To Be An Indian
@ ''

Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

''
I Proud To Be An Indian
@ '' Bollywood Hungama'' ( IndiaFM) *
Trailer of Jai Veeru
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sira, Puneet 1967 births Living people British people of Punjabi descent British film directors