Zeishan Quadri

Zeishan Quadri is an Indian writer, actor, director and producer who wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay for the Bollywood crime genre film Gangs of Wasseypur, directed by Anurag Kashyap. Quadri has also acted in Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 2. He has directed and produced the film Meeruthiya Gangsters. In 2025, he participated in Bigg Boss 19.

Early life Zeishan Quadri was born in Wasseypur, Dhanbad, Bihar (now in Jharkhand) in 1983. He is the only son and the youngest child of Syed Imran Quadri, a civil engineer. Quadri grew up in a strict and protective environment. He has two elder sisters. Quadri was educated in Dhanbad. Quadri left Dhanbad to study for Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Meerut. Quadri worked in a call center and for HCL computers in Delhi for 18 months before coming to Mumbai in 2008.

Film career

2009-2012: Career beginnings and Gangs of Wasseypur In 2009, Quadri moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. Quadri studied world cinema including film makers such as Majid Majidi, Fateh Akın and Akira Kurosawa. In 2009, he met director Anurag Kashyap and pitched him the story of Wasseypur. Quadri negotiated to write the script and play the character "Definite" in the second part. On May 30, 2009, Quadri's story was sold to Kashyap. Based on real life events in the coal rich city of Dhanbad, it was a story about the "coal mafia" that spans several generations from 1941 to 2010. Gangs of Wasseypur, initially shot as a five hour long film, was released as a duology, with the first part releasing on June 22, 2012, and the second part releasing on August 8, 2012, in the Indian market, after being screened in its entirety at screened at the 2012 Cannes Directors' Fortnight. With an ensemble cast of Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Richa Chadda, Jaideep Ahlawat, Huma Qureshi, Piyush Mishra and Tigmanshu Dhulia starring in major roles, both films received widespread critical acclaim and were commercially successful at the box office. It has gained a large cult following over the years due to its dark humor, experimental soundtrack, and its raw and realistic filmmaking style not done by any Bollywood film before.

2014: Further successes He acted in the film Revolver Rani, which was directed by Sai Kabir and starred Kangana Ranaut and Vir Das. In 2014, Quadri acted in the movie Akki, Vikki Te Nikki directed by Vipin Sharma and produced by Bohra Brothers. He was reported to have been working on a script with Madhur Bhandarkar for his then-upcoming movie Madamji starring Priyanka Chopra, but since then, no further developments on the projects have been reported.

In 2015, he was reported to be working on a script Oh Womaniya for Pritish Nandy Communications to be helmed by director Anu Menon, and on the Fardeen Khan starrer Firauti, both of which were eventually shelved. His first film as a director and producer was Meeruthiya Gangsters. Quadri visited many cities for the promotion of the film including Aligarh at Aligarh Muslim University. He also acted as the jury member at the university's eighth edition of Filmsaaz.

According to Mumbai Mirror, Anurag Kashyap and Quadri were reported to collaborate on the third installment of the Gangs of Wasseypur franchise, with Kashyap insisting that Quadri writes and directs the film. This claim was eventually debunked by Kashyap in 2024.

Quadri initially planned to produce Sarbjit, and roped in Omung Kumar as the director. The film released in 2016 to mixed reviews.

In 2020, Quadri starred in the non-fiction TV series Bicchoo Ka Khel, which was produced by Ekta Kapoor. He also produced and co-wrote the screenplay for the films Halahal and Chhalaang in the same year.

In 2024, he played a negative lead in the movie Woh Bhi Din The directed by Sajid Ali, produced by John Abraham Entertainment and a deputy CBI officer in Bloody Daddy. In 2025, he participated in the reality TV show Bigg Boss 19 and finished in the 15th place.

Filmography

Films Year Film Director Producer Screenwriter Actor Notes2012 Gangs of Wasseypur 2020 Halahal Chhalaang 2023 Bloody Daddy 2024 Woh Bhi Din The

Television

Web series

Awards and nominations Year Film Award Category ResultNotes 2013 Gangs Of Wasseypur SAIFF Best Supporting Actor 2013 Star Screen Award Best Dialogue Writer 2013 Filmfare Best Dialogue Writer 2013 TOIFA Best Dialogue Writer 2013 IIFA Best Dialogue Writer