Shekhar Kapur

Born: 1945

Where: Lake Lahore, Pakistan

The Bollywood veteran made his global breakthrough with Elizabeth starring Cate Blanchett as Good Queen Bess.

A trained chartered accountant, Kapur followed a brief stay in Britain with a film-making career in Bombay, first as an actor then director.

His first film was the Bollywood movie Masoom which was followed among others by the controverial but critically acclaimed Bandit Queen.

The move west saw him make Elizabeth which was followed by the remake of The Four Feathers, starring Heath Ledger and Wes Bentley.

Upcoming projects include the Nelson Mandela biopic A Long Walk To Freedom starring Morgan Freeman.