'Ray films were my film school': Rajkumar Hirani
At a recent event in Kolkata, filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani paid heartfelt tribute to Satyajit Ray, saying, "I went to a film school, and there were weeks and months we would just watch (Satyajit) Ray films, and we are all huge fans. Not a single soul in this country would not admire Ray's films."
Ray is India's most celebrated filmmaker
Born in 1921 in Kolkata, Ray is widely seen as one of the all-time greats of cinema. He made classics like The Apu Trilogy, Charulata, and Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne.
Beyond directing, he was also a screenwriter, composer, author, and illustrator—his movies are still studied in film schools.
Hirani's own work has been pathbreaking
Hirani himself is known for hits like 3 Idiots, Sanju, PK—and more recently Dunki with Shah Rukh Khan—which crossed ₹400 crore globally.
His admiration highlights just how much Ray's work continues to shape Indian cinema and inspire new generations of filmmakers and fans alike.