Anurag Kashyap, born on September 10, 1972, in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, is an acclaimed Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his significant contributions to Hindi cinema. He grew up in a Rajput family, with his father, Prakash Singh, serving as a Chief Engineer at the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited.

He completed his early education at Green School in Dehradun and later attended Scindia School in Gwalior. He pursued a degree in Zoology from Hans Raj College, University of Delhi, graduating in 1993. Initially aspiring to be a scientist, his passion for cinema was ignited after watching Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver," which led him to Mumbai with just Rs. 5000 in his pocket.

His career in the film industry began in the mid-1990s. He gained recognition as a co-writer for Ram Gopal Varma's crime drama "Satya" in 1998. His directorial debut came with "Paanch," a film that faced censorship issues and never had a theatrical release.

Despite this setback, he continued to make his mark with "Black Friday" in 2004, a film based on the 1993 Bombay bombings, which was critically acclaimed despite its delayed release.

His unique storytelling style and willingness to tackle controversial subjects set him apart in the industry. His subsequent films, including "No Smoking," "Dev.D," and "Gulaal," showcased his versatility and ability to push cinematic boundaries.

His prominence soared with the release of the two-part crime drama "Gangs of Wasseypur" in 2012. The film received widespread acclaim for its gritty portrayal of the coal mafia in Bihar and established Kashyap as a leading figure in Indian cinema.

He continued to explore diverse genres with films like "The Lunchbox," "Ugly," and "Raman Raghav 2.0." In 2018, he co-directed India's first Netflix Original series, "Sacred Games," based on Vikram Chandra's novel, which further solidified his reputation as a visionary filmmaker.

In his personal life, Anurag Kashyap has been married twice. His first marriage was to film editor Aarti Bajaj, with whom he has a daughter named Aaliyah. The couple divorced in 2009. He later married actress Kalki Koechlin in 2011, but they separated in 2015.

His contributions to the film industry have been recognized with several awards and honors. He has received four Filmfare Awards and was honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government in 2013 for his significant contributions to cinema.

His films have been screened at various international film festivals, earning him a global audience and critical acclaim.