Gauri Shinde, an advertising filmmaker for more than a decade, made a successful foray into Hindi cinema and feature films with her directorial debut English Vinglish (2012), starring Sridevi, who was making her comeback after over a decade and a half of marriage and child-rearing.

Shinde's next project, Dear Zindagi (2016), starred Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan. That film was also a hit, though not as well loved as English Vinglish.

Gauri Shinde began her career working with advertising agencies like IBW, Bates Clarion and Lowe Lintas. She made around 100 ad films and short films, including Oh Man! which was screened at the Berlin film festival.

Her maiden film English Vinglish was first shown at the Toronto International Film Festival before being released in India. She received critical as well as commercial recognition for the film and picked up the Filmfare, IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) and STAR Guild awards for Best Debut Director.

Gauri Shinde was featured in the Financial Times newspaper's 2012 list of '25 Indians to Watch' and news portal rediff.com's list of 'Bollywood's five best directors of 2012'.

She is married to well-known director R Balki, also a former adman.