Yash Chopra

Yash Chopra (born September 27, 1932, Lahore, Punjab, British India [now in Pakistan]—died October 21, 2012, Mumbai, India) was an Indian filmmaker who was known for his Bollywood films, especially romances such as Kabhi Kabhie (1976; “Sometimes”) and action-packed thrillers such as Deewaar (1975; “Wall”). He is credited with popularizing Indian cinema in a broader international market. He founded the production and distribution company Yash Raj Films, known for delivering many of Bollywood’s top-grossing movies, among them Pathaan (2023). Much of his work is considered pioneering for addressing difficult social themes, such as infidelity and motherhood out of wedlock.

Early life and family

Chopra was born in Lahore, Punjab (now in Pakistan), later moving to Jalandhar in India and then to Bombay (Mumbai). His elder brother B.R. Chopra was a very successful filmmaker. Yash Chopra’s wife, Pamela Chopra (née Singh; married 1970), sang playback in films directed by him, such as Kabhi Kabhie and Silsila (1981; “The Affair”). Their elder son, Aditya Chopra, is regarded as one of the most influential of contemporary Bollywood producers, and their younger son, Uday, is an actor and producer. Aditya Chopra is married to Rani Mukerji, an acclaimed Bollywood actress.

Career

Chopra began his career as an assistant director to Indian actor and filmmaker I.S. Johar and later worked with his elder brother B.R. Chopra. His directorial debut, Dhool Ka Phool (1959; “Flowers of the Dust”), a drama that examines the social consequences of the birth of a child out of wedlock, was enormously popular. He followed it with Dharmputra (1961; “Dutiful Son”), a film adaptation of a novel about the pre-partition period of India’s history. His next effort, the popular Waqt (1965; “Time”), was India’s first film to feature an ensemble cast of several major actors, including Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Sadhana, and Shashi Kapoor, and it started a trend. Indeed, Chopra’s films provided a springboard for many actors—including Amitabh Bachchan (Deewaar and Trishul [1978; “Trident”]) and Shah Rukh Khan (Darr [1993; “Fear”])—who have since become legends in the Hindi film industry. Chopra released two films in 1969, Aadmi Aur Insaan (“Man and Humanity”) and the thriller Ittefaq (“Coincidence”). In the following year he launched his own production company, Yash Raj Films, which debuted with Daag (1973; “Stain”), based on English novelist Thomas Hardy’s 1886 novel The Mayor of Casterbridge. Among the most prominent films produced by Yash Raj Films is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995; “The Brave-Hearted Wins the Bride”). Directed by Chopra’s son Aditya and starring Shah Rukh Khan, the film is popularly considered to be the definitive Bollywood entry on romance.

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In the 1980s a series of films by Chopra, including Silsila, Faasle (1985; “Distances”), and the action-oriented films Mashaal (1984; “Torch”) and Vijay (1988; “Victory,” a common male first name), flopped at the box office. His reputation was redeemed by Chandni (1989; “Moonlight”), but Lamhe (1991; “Moments”), which is considered by many critics to be his best film, did not achieve wide popularity. Among Chopra’s other noteworthy works as producer-director were Kaala Patthar (1979; “Black Stone”), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997; “The Heart Is Crazy”), and Veer-Zaara (2004), a cross-border romance between an Indian air force officer and a Pakistani heiress. Although he continued to be active as a producer, after 1991 Chopra directed only five more films. He died of dengue fever shortly after he announced his retirement and just before the release of his last directorial effort, Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012; “As Long As I Live”).

Legacy

As a director, Chopra was noted for featuring visually stunning imagery shot in diverse locales. Indeed, he was honored by the government of Switzerland for promoting that country in his films—scenes and songs from films such as Chandni and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge were filmed in various locales in Switzerland. Chopra held the distinction of being the only filmmaker to have won the Indian National Film Award for best popular film five times—four times as director and once as producer. He also received a number of Filmfare Awards (given by Filmfare magazine), including 12 nominations and 4 wins for best director and 15 nominations and 4 wins for best film. The government of India honored him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement in cinema in 2001, and in 2005 he received one of its highest civilian honors, the Padma Bhushan.