Emmigrated to London; worked as an accountant and later a management consultant

Returned to India at age 25 to pursue show business career (date approximate)

Appeared as leading actor in three unsuccessful features

Won praise for his directorial debut "Masoom/Innocent"

Had box-office success with the children's fantasy "Mr. India"

Acted in the Bollywood film, "Drishti"

Earned international success with the controversial film "Bandit Queen," originally made for British TV

Directed the Academy Award-winning period film "Elizabeth," starring Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Fiennes

Established an Indian talkies film company with Ram Gopal Verma and Mani Ratnam

Helmed the remake of "Four Feathers" starring Heath Ledger, and Kate Hudson

Executive produced the Bollywood-themed Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Bombay Dreams" in London's West End

Formed Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation with Sir Richard Branson, author Deepak Chopra and entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan, Suresh Seetharaman and Gotham Chopra

Reteamed with Blanchett to direct "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," a sequel to his award winning feature "Elizabeth"