Filmmakers bitten by the acting bug

Looks like it's not just the actors and the actresses but even directors these days are looking for meatier roles for themselves on screen. While blink-and-miss cameos by auteurs like Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho), Shekhar Kapur (Bandit Queen), Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings) and Subhash Ghai (Pardes) are quite popular, some of our recent filmmakers seem to want a bigger share of the acting pie.u00a0

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra recently did it in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. And so did Prabhudheva in his Ramaiya Vastavaiya. Vikram Bhatt too is all set to make his acting debut in his upcoming film. Here are a few directors who have shared screen space along with their cast.

Tigmanshu Dhulia
Renowned for making films like Paan Singh Tomar and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Tishu agreed to portray a rather intense character in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur, followed by a minor role in Hansal Mehta's Shahid. Will he continue acting? "Well, I can cook too but I won't dare call myself a chef now, can I?" quips the writer-director.

Anurag Basu
After directing films like Life in a Metro and Gangster, Basu went on to don a role in Onir's I Am charging a nominal R 500 as his acting fees. He later played a monkey cap-wearing man in Barfi! who is ogling at Priyanka Chopra's legs prompting Ranbir Kapoor to lift his trousers! Currently, there is a buzz doing the rounds that he's most likely to act in his assistant Abhijeet Das's debut Bengali film.

Anurag Kashyap
Being the poster boy of the ongoing New Wave in Hindi cinema, his name is associated with a number of brave endeavours. And true to his character, he hasn't shied away from background roles starting all the way from his first release Black Friday - in which fellow director Imtiaz Ali acted too - followed by Dev D, Shagird, That Girl in Yellow Boots and Trishna.

Karan Johar
KJo is all set to make his full-fledged acting debut in Anurag Kashyap's forthcoming Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Bombay Velvet. He's reportedly playing a villain in the film.

Farah Khan
The choreographer-director has appeared in several films including Om Shanti Om and Joker. But last year's Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi marked her debut as an actress.

Actions Galore

Farhan Akhtar
So far, Farhan has directed four feature films, acted in five and produced 12 - thus providing a new meaning to the word ‘multi-faceted' in the industry.

Rohit Shetty
He likes to be in the driver's seat. Quite literally. With a visible brawny physique to boot, Rohit not only drove the red car in a song featuring Kareena Kapoor in Golmaal 3 but also took charge of a bus in Bol Bachchan. Needless to speculate, he may have done more than just direction for his upcoming Chennai Express.

Remo D'Souza
The choreographer-turned- filmmaker has helmed two Hindi films till date FALTU and ABCD: Any Body Can Dance and he made it a point to make special appearances in both of them

Actors first

Ashutosh Gowariker
The brain behind the Oscar-nominated Lagaan started his filmi career as an actor before effectively dabbling in direction. Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey was his last directorial venture.

Abhishek Kapoor
Director of Kai Po Che, he began his career as an actor with Aashique Mastane (1995) before going on to star opposite Twinkle Khanna in Uff! Yeh Mohabbat (1997). Abshishek's second innings as a successful director happened with Rock On!! in 2008.u00a0