Here are my choices in order. Let me know what you guys think.

1) Mani Ratnam - Far and away, the undisputed, greatest director working in commercial cinema today. No director working today comes close to the quality Ratnam has churned out since he began his career. "Mouna Raagam", "Iruvar", "Roja", and "Kannathil Muthamitaal" are his masterpieces while his less than great films like "Dil Se", "Bombay", and the recent "Yuva" are still better that the best offered by the other so-called great directors of Indian cinema.

2) Vidhu Vinod Chopra - One of the few veteran filmmakers left in Bollywood today that can still make a wonderful film. VVC might talk a lot but the fact of the matter is that he backs his word up with brilliant films like "Parinda", "1942 - A Love Story" and "Mission Kashmir". Even an ordinary film like "Kareeb" stands out because of the naturalness and simplicity that VVC infuses in each one of his films. Along with Ratnam, Vidhu Vinod Chopra is also the most technically accomplished director in India. The only problem with VVC is the rather long time he takes to make a film.

3) Ram Gopal Varma - A great filmmaker but now, he's slowly detetiorating. Last great film was "Satya". Ever since then, Varma has consistently missed the target again and again. "Mast" was a pitiful excuse of a film. "Company" was very good but nowhere near the quality "Satya" offered. "Bhoot" is quite possibly, along with "Daud", Varma's worst movie to date in his long, checkered, hit-and-miss filmography. Today, directors like Sriram Raghavan ("Ek Hasina Thi") and Shimit Amin ("Ab Tak Chappan") are making better films than Varma himself. Where is the director who gave us such gems in "Rangeela", "Shiva", etc.,? Varma seriously needs to reevaluate himself as a filmmaker. Upcoming movies like "Sarkar" and "Naach" will not do the trick. Otherwise, he can become a full-time producer.

4) Priyadarshan - Quite possibly, the best director when it comes to comedic films. Can easily mix slapstick with subtle, realistic comedy in an intelligent and exceptional manner. Has made only a handful of films up here in the North which include his noteworthy comedy caper, "Hera Pheri", but has made a ton of films down South with two of the greatest actors in Indian cinema - Mammooty and Mohanlal. I wish I could have seen some of these films because he has supposedly made a bigger name for himself down South with better films. "Virasat" and "Gardish" (surprising because it isn't Priyan's forte) are his best films. Looking forward to his upcoming release, "Hulchul".

5) I can't think of any director who deserves this slot. Rajkumar Santoshi is very inconsistent as a director. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has not surpassed his debut film which wasn't all that great in the first place. Yash Chopra has been out of the game for a long time. Maybe he'll bounce back with his next venture. Vishal Bharadwaj is the most promising director out there today but he has not made enough films for consideration. The same applies for Farhan Akhtar, although he has taken a step back as a director with "Lakshya". The less said about filmmakers like Karan Johar and Subhash Ghai, the better. So, my fifth slot goes to...no one. I'll reserve that spot for someone when they deserve it.

I think out of the current crop of commercial directors, RGV is far ahead of everyone else. There are some guys who have made a few great films but no one can really match the quantity of quality films that RGV has directed/produced imo.

I think RGV is the worse of the five...in fact he hasn't made a decent film in years...I didn't even rate Company that much either...I prefered his hardcore (and copyfree) style of film-making...Satya...Rangeela...Shiva...etc... Maybe he needs to go back to low budget film-making...or stick to producing one off wonders like Ab Tak Chapan, or Darna Mana Hai.

Copyfree??

He makes just as many "inspired" films now as he did before

Though I don't see what you are trying to say

His "inspired" films are always well adapted and always contain plenty of original content (such as "Satya" - or should I say "Satya's Way")

They are great films nonetheless

As for his films - within the last year he has made 3 great films (MMDBCH, EHT, AT56) - most of these directors are lucky if they make 3 great films in their career

if u ask me COMPANY too, was RESTYLED/REHASHED SATYA!

Shouldn't Rakesh Roshan be among top 5?? All films directed by him have been Hits.

except few like Kala Bazaar, King Uncle, Koyla, Karobaar etc. etc.

Rana, I'm talking about directors who make quality films not box-office hits. Rakesh Roshan has never made a film worth mentioning or worth seeing twice.

Oops! I thought thread title was Commercial Directors.

Rana, this thread is indeed about the best commercial directors. I think you're missing the point here. I'm labelling directors who I think make the best films in the commercial mould not directors who strike it big in the box-office. Rakesh Roshan does not, I repeat, does not make quality films. He has box-office hits to his credit - that's it and so he's not on my list.

I absolutely agree with Hal about this thread being about best commercial directors - while excluding retards like Rakesh Roshan. Making a hit film for the Indian masses using formulas is not exactly difficult. Basically, its a hit and miss affair - much like gambling - depending on the whims and fancies of the masses. Rakesh Roshan's Koyla and Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai are, to me, equally preposterous - contrary to their box office results.

Making a film in the commercial genre while retaining some semblance of sophisticated story-telling and technical integrity (while knowing that it's largely going to go over the heads of the masses) is rare and commendable in Bollywood - and as such my favourite COMMERCIAL film directors figure as below:

1. Vidhu Vinod Chopra - by far, the most technically brilliant filmmaker in India.

2. Farhan Akhtar

3. Ram Gopal Varma (and all his ghost-directed efforts )

4. Maniratnam

5. Ashutosh Gowariker?? (it's hard to judge him with only one film - which I bet had a lot of input from Amir Khan)

Maniratnam

RGV

Sriram Raghavan

Priyadarshan

Farhan Akhtar

Instead of me listing the 5 best commercial director's working in mainstream Indian cinema today, I will backhandedly list the 5 most important director's working today in mainstream Indian cinema.

The following are 5 filmmaker's whom I believe that shed a particular style of filmmaking which presents a social challenge to it's viewers in a way more complex than meer storytelling. In other words, I believe these are filmmaker's that value the medium to it's fullest potential. Such artist, should be ranked amongst the best filmmakers in the WORLD today.
[Excluding Shyam Benegal]

- Santosh Sivan
- Kamal Haasan
- Mani Ratnam
- Sanjay Leela Bhansali
- Vidhu Vinod Chopra

HM: Vishal Bharadwaj, Gulzar, M.F. Husain

what about KARAN JOHAR , ADITYA CHOPRA ??

Great picks DVD Collector. Although, Bhansali would not be on my list - at least not yet. Santosh Sivan is a great addition though.