Who is Yash Chopra? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

Yash Raj Chopra Wiki Biography

Yash Raj Chopra was a film director and producer, born on 27th September 1932 in Lahore, Punjab Province, (then) British India. He predominantly worked in Hindi cinema, and making his debut directing “Dhool Ka Phool” in 1959. Some of his most notable films include “Waqt” (1965), “Deewar”, “Trishul”, “Chandni” among many others. Chopra was also the founder of the Yash Raj Studios and Yash Raj Films production companies. He passed away in 2012.

Have you ever wondered how rich Yash Chopra was? According to sources it has been estimated that Yash Chopra’s overall net worth was $50 million, acquired through a long and lucrative career in the film industry which spanned more than 50 years. Having made an acknowledged and respected name for himself, his net worth grew after each project’s success.

Yash Chopra Net Worth $50 Million

Yash was born into a Punjabi Hindu family, the youngest of eight children. He was mostly brought up by his second eldest brother, BR Chopra who was a film journalist at the time. In 1945, Yash went to Jalandhar and enrolled at the Doaba College, and although he originally wanted to pursue a career in engineering, Chopra’s love for film-making prevailed, and he traveled to Bombay and started working as director I.S.Johar’s assistant.

Yash’s first directing opportunity came in 1959 when he filmed the social drama “Dhool Ka Phool”, produced by an older brother, one of the most profitable films of the year and receiving positive critiques. Two years later, the brothers released another project of their cooperation called “Dharmputra”(1961), which was one of the first films depicting the partition of India, and received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Followed the 1965 film “Waqt”, which became another critical and commercial success, and earned Yash his first Filmfare Best Director Award, boosting his net worth too.

Some of other notable films Chopra directed include “Aadmi Aur Insaan” and “Ittefaq”, which brought him his second Filmfare Award for best director. In 1971, Yash founded the Yash Raj Films entertainment company, which terminated his collaboration with his brother. His first independent film was “Daag: A Poem of Love”(1973), and soon followed “Deewaar”, “Trishul”, “Kabhi Kabhie”, “Silsila” and many others. The period of the ‘80s wasn’t as fruitful as earlier years as the films he produced failed to leave a mark in the box office. However, in 1989, with the release of the cult classic “Chandni”, Chopra came back to popularity, setting a new style in Hindi films, naturally known as the Yash Chopra style, with the film also winning the National Film Award for Best Popular Film of the year.

Another Bollywood hit came in 1991 with “Lamhe” which won five Filmfare Awards including for Best Movie. During the ‘90s, Yash released several other hit films, such as “Darr” and “Dil To Pagal Hai”, and then took some time off from directing, until his return with the love saga “Veer-Zaara” in 2004.

Chopra never let up working, and even directed 10 films in his last three years. His final directorial project was to be “Jab Tak Hai Jaan”, a film he announced on his 80th birthday in September 2012. However, Yash died during the process of its filming, on 21st October 2012 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Privately, Chopra married Pamela Singh in 1970 with whom he had two sons – Aditya Chopra, also a film director and producer and Uday Chopra an assistant director and actor.



Full Name Aditya Chopra
Net Worth $50 Million
Date Of Birth September 27, 1932
Died October 21, 2012, Mumbai, India
Place Of Birth Lahore, Punjab, British India
Profession Producer, Director, Miscellaneous Crew
Education Doaba College
Nationality Indian
Spouse Pamela Yash Chopra (m. 1970–2012)
Children Aditya Chopra, Uday Chopra
Parents Lal Vilayati Raj Chopra, Draupadi Chopra
Siblings Baldev Raj Chopra, Hiroo Johar, Dharam Chopra, Hans Raj Chopra, Kuldip Raj Chopra
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007181/
Awards Filmfare Award for Best Film, Filmfare Award for Best Director, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Bhushan, National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, Zee Cine Award for Best Film, National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, F…
Movies Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara, Lamhe, Kabhi Kabhie, Darr, Silsila, Chandni, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Daag, Deewaar, Waqt, Mohabbatein, Trishul, Kaala Patthar, Dhool Ka Phool, Mashaal, Ittefaq, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Dharmputra, Faasle, Parampara, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Noorie, Bunty Au…
Trademark
1 His films are always romantic films, with shots from foreign locations and having high-quality music.
Quote
1 My personal favorites among my directorial ventures are Ittefaq, Daag, Deewar, Kabhie Kabhie, Lamhe and Mashaal.
2 These days, most films are sensible. The young whiz kids are doing a wonderful job. Their films are different, and most are good. A Wednesday (2008), for example, was a wonderful film. And that’s why we are taking a lot of chances at Yash Raj Films, by giving breaks to new actors, directors and musicians.
3 I’ve always worked with big stars, but they know that I am only honest to the script. It is my Gita and I never changed it to please film stars or their egos. We spend months in writing a film, so I wouldn’t like it if someone asks me to change it. That’s why I like to finish a film as fast as possible once I start. But as far as performances are concerned, I give full liberty to the artistes. I have full faith in them.
4 There are only two types of cinema – good or bad.
5 I was in Lahore before the partition, so I don’t believe that a border can truly separate Punjab. I still think of it as one.
6 My technicians are my most important tools. Once I establish a rapport with them, then they would understand me in my next film. I wouldn’t have to train anyone new. I give a lot of respect to all my technicians, because I’m a technician too. I wouldn’t be able to convey a feeling if the writer didn’t write it well, and the cameraman didn’t shoot it well.
7 What is the point of making the film if the man doesn’t marry the girl?
8 I think songs enhance romance and sometimes, even drama, when you have to comment on a society, like Guru Dutt did in Pyaasa (1957). Songs are a great way of conveying the director’s imagination. People in this era don’t like to see lip-syncing and prefer songs in the background, but I feel that an emotion can be conveyed better if it comes through the person singing it.
9 Though, technically, I’m shooting on location, my films are actually based inside a woman’s heart. I think women are more emotional than men, and that’s a thread I’ve explored in all my films. When I see TV these days, I’m shocked at how all the main women characters are portrayed as evil. Women are the foundation of everything, and they deserve to be treated that way on camera.
10 I believe in my old style of making films. I think I have it in me to make a different film in my own area of romance. Films on human relationships never go out of fashion. Everyone says ‘I love you’ these days. But it’s about how you say it.
11 Relationships interest me because man is one creature who is capable of sane as well as insane behaviour. It’s this nature of human beings that inspires and gives room for innumerable plots. Like in _Daag (1973)_, Raakhee, who played the other woman, created all the drama, as did Rekha in Silsila (1981). In Aaina (1993) it was the jealous sister while in Darr (1993) it was the obsessive lover. So unlike other movies where a villain is added to create the problems, in my films villainy is substituted by a third angle.
12 The reason for his seven-year hiatus in direction: “My son Aditya made Mohabbatein (2000), which took a lot of time and energy. Then we started looking for a script for me to direct. Nothing seemed to excite us both. There’s a complete bankruptcy of screenwriting in our cinema. I wanted a very earthy and Indian subject. I was tired of the promos on television. With semi-clad girls, they all looked the same. Of course Dhoom (2004) has them too. But I’d personally not make a film like that.”
13 On singer Lata Mangeshkar: “Lataji has always been so kind to me. She can never say no to me. As long as I am there and she’s there she’ll continue to sing for my films. When others sing they follow music, but when she sings, music follows her. I truly believe that. When she sang for Dhool Ka Phool (1959) the first film I directed, I was in awe of her. Today I’m much closer to her. But the awe remains.”
14 Films have been my only passion in life. I have always been proud of making films and will continue taking pride in all my films. I have never made a movie I have not believed in. However, though I love all my films, one tends to get attached to films that do well. But I do not have any regrets about making films that did not really do well at the box office.
15 I always believe that my films should give some hope to the man who comes to watch them for those three hours. If he goes home on an optimistic note, I would feel satisfied at having done my duty.
16 About Veer-Zaara (2004): “Though it’s a film about cross-border love, there isn’t a word of politics in it. Forget politics, there isn’t slap, not even a raised voice in Veer-Zaara (2004). It’s a very intense, humane and emotional story. Veer-Zaara (2004) is a humble tribute to my home in Punjab. It’s my tribute to the one-ness of people on both sides of the border. Every religion preaches peace. Then why the bloodshed for the sake of religion? Why are we destroying each other?”
17 You can always make a good film but for it to be successful, you need God’s blessing.
18 I’m the sentimental sort. I cry easily. I cry when I see poignant films made by other directors.
19 We’re making all kinds of films – English, Hinglish, sex, horror… this and that. It’s a healthy trend. But for a film to run it has to have Indian values. For a film to be a blockbuster it has to be rooted to our culture.
Fact
1 Brother in law Gava produced the film Karobaar in 2000.
2 Elder brother named Kuldip Raj Chopra.
3 Gulshan Kumar had launched a film titled ” Mohabbatien” in the 1990’s. This was to be directed by Yash Chopra. The film was eventually shelved.
4 Elder brother named Hans Raj Chopra. Hans Raj had a son named Lalit Chopra who has passed away. Lalit was married to Suman Chopra. Suman and Lalit Chopra have two daughters. Their names are Bhakti Mehta and Aradhna Bhandari.
5 Uncle to late director Ravi Chopra.
6 Son Aditya Chopra’s first wife Payal Khanna, is the granddaughter of producer, director Ramanand Sagar.
7 He has shot in Switzerland so many times that a lake in the Alpenrausch, a favourite shooting spot of his, has been christened Chopra Lake.
8 Member of jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2006.
9 Father of Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra.
10 He has a habit of repeating his actors in his films and frequently casts Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Waheeda Rehman, Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji.
11 He decided to leave his brother’s studio to form Yash Raj Films after returning from his honeymoon. It is unclear what influenced him to do so.
12 Younger brother of B.R. Chopra and Dharam Chopra.

Producer

Title Year Status Character
Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl 2011 presentation producer
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan 2011 producer
Band Baaja Baaraat 2010 presentation producer
Lafangey Parindey 2010 producer
Pyaar Impossible! 2010 producer
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi 2008 producer
Roadside Romeo 2008 executive producer / producer
Bachna Ae Haseeno 2008 producer
Chak de! India 2007 producer
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom 2007 producer
Dhoom 2 2006 producer
Kabul Express 2006 producer
Fanaa 2006 producer
Neal ‘N’ Nikki 2005 producer
Salaam Namaste 2005 producer
Bunty Aur Babli 2005 producer
Veer-Zaara 2004 producer
Dhoom 2004 producer
Hum Tum 2004 producer
Mujhse Dosti Karoge! 2002 producer
Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai 2002 producer
Mohabbatein 2000 producer
Humko Ishq Ne Mara 1997 TV Movie producer
Dil To Pagal Hai 1997 producer
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge 1995 producer
Yeh Dillagi 1994 producer
Darr 1993 producer
Aaina 1993 producer
Lamhe 1991 producer
Chandni 1989 producer
Vijay 1988 producer
Faasle 1985 producer
Mashaal 1984 producer
Sawaal 1982/I producer
Silsila 1981 producer
Nakhuda 1981 producer
Kaala Patthar 1979 producer
Noorie 1979 producer
Doosara Aadmi 1977 producer
Kabhie Kabhie 1976 producer
Daag: A Poem of Love 1973 producer

Director

Title Year Status Character
Jab Tak Hai Jaan 2012
Veer-Zaara 2004
Dil To Pagal Hai 1997
Darr 1993
Parampara 1992
Lamhe 1991
Chandni 1989
Vijay 1988
Faasle 1985
Mashaal 1984
Silsila 1981
Kaala Patthar 1979
Trishul 1978
Kabhie Kabhie 1976
Deewaar 1975
Joshila 1973
Daag: A Poem of Love 1973
Aadmi Aur Insaan 1969
Ittefaq 1969
Waqt 1965
Dharmputra 1961
Dhool Ka Phool 1959

Miscellaneous

Title Year Status Character
Band Baaja Baaraat 2010 presenter
Bachna Ae Haseeno 2008 presents
Dhoom 2 2006 presenter
Kabul Express 2006 presenter
Yeh Dillagi 1994 presenter
Aaina 1993 presenter

Assistant Director

Title Year Status Character
Kanoon 1960 associate director
Sadhna 1958 assistant director – as Yash
Naya Daur 1957 assistant director – as Yash
Ek-Hi-Rasta 1956 assistant director – as Yash

Writer

Title Year Status Character
Dil To Pagal Hai 1997 screenplay
Silsila 1981 screenplay

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Veer-Zaara 2004 Narrator (uncredited)

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Teen Patti 2010 special thanks
Om Shanti Om 2007 very big thanks
Charas: A Joint Effort 2004 very special thanks
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 1998 thanks – as Yash Uncle
Rudaali 1993 acknowledgment: member N.F.D.C. – as Shri Yash Chopra
Lorie 1984 grateful acknowledgment

Self

Title Year Status Character
Celluloid Man 2012 Documentary Himself
55th Idea Filmfare Awards 2010 TV Special Himself
Om Shanti Om 2007 Himself
There Is No Direction 2005 Documentary short Himself
Bollywood im Alpenrausch 2000 TV Special documentary Himself
Dil To Pagal Hai 1997 Himself (opening credits seqence) (uncredited)

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
Still Rolling: The DDLJ Story 2016 Documentary short

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Filmfare Awards
2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Zee Cine Awards Lifetime Achivement Award
2013 Special Award Zee Cine Awards Power Club – Box Office Award Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)
2010 Children’s International Special Jury Prize Cairo International Film Festival for Children Roadside Romeo (2008)
2009 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Scene of the Year Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
2009 Asian Filmmaker of the Year Pusan International Film Festival
2008 FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film Asia Pacific Screen Awards
2006 Lifetime Achievement Award Bombay International Film Festival
2006 Audience Award Jeonju Film Festival Veer-Zaara (2004)
2005 Popular Award Awards of the International Indian Film Academy Best Director Veer-Zaara (2004)
2005 Popular Award Awards of the International Indian Film Academy Best Picture Veer-Zaara (2004)
2005 Lifetime Achievement Award Dubai International Film Festival
2005 Golden Lotus Award National Film Awards, India Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Veer-Zaara (2004)
2005 Popular Award Zee Cine Awards Best Director Veer-Zaara (2004)
2005 Popular Award Zee Cine Awards Best Producer of the Year
2001 Special Award Screen Weekly Awards For his contribution to Indian cinema.
1996 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
1994 Silver Lotus Award National Film Awards, India Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Darr (1993)
1992 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Film Lamhe (1991)
1976 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Director Deewaar (1975)
1974 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Director Daag: A Poem of Love (1973)
1970 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Director Ittefaq (1969)
1966 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Director Waqt (1965)

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2005 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Director Veer-Zaara (2004)
2005 Screen Screen Weekly Awards Best Director Veer-Zaara (2004)
2001 Popular Award Awards of the International Indian Film Academy Best Picture Mohabbatein (2000)
1994 Filmfare Award Filmfare Awards Best Director Darr (1993)

You May Also Like