Ritesh Sidhwani (born 1971) is a Bollywood

Bollywood

Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 film producer

Film producer

A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...

, who founded a film production house under the banner of Excel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Excel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Excel Entertainment is an Indian film studio based in Mumbai. It was created by Farhan Akhtar, and Ritesh Sidhwani in 1999. The two have gone on to create several films under Excel's banner.-Farhan Akhtar:...

 Along with long time friend Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar is an Indian filmmaker, script writer, actor, playback singer, lyricist, film producer in Hindi cinema and a television host.His directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi...

, he brought to the audience Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Chahta Hai is a 2001 Indian film starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia...

, his first film under his banner.

Early life

Ritesh Sidhwani was born in a Sindhi

Sindhi people

Sindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...

 family in Mumbai, where he received his education. His father is Chandan T Sidhwani.

Career

He started his career in his family's business, Marlex

Marlex

Marlex is a trademarked name for crystalline polypropylene and high-density polyethylene . These plastics were invented by J. Paul Hogan and Robert Banks, two research chemists at the Phillips Petroleum company....

, India's largest home appliance company, and started his film production company, Excel Entertainment

Excel Entertainment

Excel Entertainment is an Indian film studio based in Mumbai. It was created by Farhan Akhtar, and Ritesh Sidhwani in 1999. The two have gone on to create several films under Excel's banner.-Farhan Akhtar:...

, with his close friend, Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar

Farhan Akhtar is an Indian filmmaker, script writer, actor, playback singer, lyricist, film producer in Hindi cinema and a television host.His directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi...

, their first film, Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Chahta Hai is a 2001 Indian film starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia...

was released in 2001.

Awards

• National Film Award:
  • 2002: Best Feature Film in Hindi
    National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
    The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
    
    : Dil Chahta Hai
    Dil Chahta Hai
    Dil Chahta Hai is a 2001 Indian film starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia...
    
    (with Farhan Akhtar)
  • 2009: Best Feature Film in Hindi
    National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
    The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
    
    : Rock On!! (with Farhan Akhtar)

External links

• Ritesh Sidhwani profile at Excel Entertainment