Vijay Kumar Arora | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Amritsar, Punjab, India |
| Other name | Daddu |
| Occupations | Film director and cinematographer |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
Vijay Kumar Arora, also known as Daddu, is an Indian filmmaker and cinematographer who predominantly works in the Hindi and Punjabi film industries. As a cinematographer, he is known for his collaborations with Mahesh Manjrekar, Anubhav Sinha, and Remo D'Souza.
For his work as a filmmaker, he was awarded the 66th National Film Award for Best Punjabi Feature Film for Harjeeta.[1][2] His other directorial Punjabi film, Guddiyan Patole, earned him a nomination for Best Director at the PTC Punjabi Film Awards in 2020.[3] The film went on to win the Jury's Choice Award for Best Film at the 10th PTC Punjabi Film Awards in 2020.[4]
Early life and career
Arora began his career in the late 1990s and worked as a cinematographer on Hindi films such as Vaastav: The Reality (1999), Kurukshetra (2000), Tum Bin (2001), Pyaar Kiya Nahin Jaata (2003), Dhamaal (2007), and ABCD (2013). His later cinematographic work includes Any Body Can Dance 2 (2015), A Flying Jatt (2016), and Street Dancer 3D (2020). He also worked on television projects, including Hasratein, Sea Hawks, Hum Bombay Nahi Jayenge, and Shikast.[5]
In the early 2010s, Arora made his directorial debut with the Punjabi film Ronde Sare Vyah Picho (2013), starring Neeru Bajwa. He went on to direct films such as Harjeeta (2018), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Punjabi,[6] Guddiyan Patole (2019), Kali Jotta (2023), and Godday Godday Chaa (2023).[7][8]
Arora has also directed music videos for artists such as Gippy Grewal, Mika Singh, B Praak, Raftaar, and Badshah, in collaboration with T-Series, and for Sonu Nigam's album Deewana.[5]
Filmography
As cinematographer
| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Aai | Marathi | Debut |
| 1999 | Vaastav: The Reality | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Jungle | ||
| Nidaan | |||
| Astitva | Marathi Hindi | ||
| Kurukshetra | Hindi | ||
| 2001 | Tum Bin | ||
| Tera Mera Saath Rahen | |||
| Ehsaas: The Feeling | |||
| 2002 | Pitaah | ||
| Hathyar | |||
| 2003 | Pyaar Kiya Nahin Jaata | ||
| Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai | |||
| 2004 | Rakht | ||
| 2005 | Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav | ||
| Dus | |||
| It Was Raining That Night | |||
| Viruddh | |||
| Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! | |||
| 2006 | Naksha | ||
| 2007 | Deha | ||
| Dhamaal | |||
| 2008 | Love Story 2050 | ||
| 2009 | Do Knot Disturb | ||
| 2011 | F.A.L.T.U | ||
| 2013 | ABCD: Anybody Can Dance | ||
| 2014 | Action Jackson | ||
| 2015 | ABCD 2 | ||
| 2016 | A Flying Jatt | ||
| 2018 | Nawabzaade | ||
| Mohalla Assi | |||
| 2020 | Street Dancer 3D | ||
| 2025 | Be Happy |
As director
- Ronde Sare Vyah Picho (2013)
- Harjeeta (2018)
- Guddiyan Patole (2019)
- Kali Jotta (2023)
- Godday Godday Chaa (2023)
- Son of Sardaar 2 (2025)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | National Film Awards | Best Punjabi Feature film | Harjeeta | Won | [1] |
| 2018 | PTC Punjabi Film Awards | Best Director | Harjeeta | Nominated | [6] |
| 2019 | PTC Punjabi Film Awards | Best Director | Guddiyan Patole | Nominated | [9] |
| 2025 | National Film Awards | Best Punjabi Feature film | Godday Godday Chaa | Won | [10] |
References
- "Son of Sardaar 2: What to Expect from the Ajay Devgn starrer sequel under the direction of Vijay Kumar Arora". Firstpost. 11 December 2024.
- "Harjeeta wins best Punjabi Film Award: 'If movie based on me can inspire youngsters, I will feel lucky'". The Indian Express. 10 August 2019.
- "Here's the full list of nominations for PTC Punjabi Film Awards 2020". PTC News. 6 June 2020.
- "Nominations For The 66th Vimal Elaichi Filmfare Awards 2021". Filmfare. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- "Vijay Kumar Arora Returns To Bollywood With Ajay Devgn Starrer 'Son Of Sardaar 2'". ABP News. 17 December 2024.
- "66th National Film Awards 2019: Team 'Harjeeta' Wins Big For 'Best Punjabi Film', and 'Best Child Artist'". PTC Punjabi. 24 December 2019.
- "Misfire or Masterstroke? Fans ask as Ajay onboards this Punjabi director for Son Of Sardaar 2". MensXP. 4 April 2024.
- Lalwani, Vickey (17 May 2024). "Ajay Devgn To Kickstart Son of Sardaar 2 Shoot - Exclusive". Times Now.
- "'Guddiyan Patole' Gets Highest Opening For Female Lead Punjabi Film". PTC Punjabi. 9 March 2019.
- "Sonam Bajwa calls Godday Godday Cha winning National Award a 'truly humbling experience'". IANS. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.