Remembering Yash Chopra, the legendary filmmaker, on his 12th death anniversary (21/10/12).

Remembering #YashChopra, the legendary filmmaker, on his 12th death anniversary (21/10/12).

Yash Raj Chopra (27 September 1932–21 October 2012) was a distinguished Indian film director and producer in Hindi cinema. He was the visionary founder and chairman of the film production and distribution powerhouse Yash Raj Films. His illustrious career earned him numerous accolades, including 6 National Film Awards and 8 Filmfare Awards, marking him as one of the paramount filmmakers in Hindi cinema, especially revered for his romantic narratives with compelling female protagonists. His remarkable contributions to the film industry were recognized by the Government of India with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005. Further, in 2006, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts gave him a lifetime membership, a first for an Indian.

Chopra’s cinematic journey commenced as an assistant director to I. S. Johar and his elder brother, B.R. Chopra. He debuted as a director with Dhool Ka Phool in 1959, a melodrama exploring illegitimacy, followed by the social drama Dharmputra (1961). His directorial finesse gained prominence with the critically and commercially acclaimed family drama Waqt (1965), which introduced the trend of ensemble casts in Bollywood. In 1970, he launched his own production entity, Yash Raj Films, with its maiden venture being Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), a melodrama delving into polygamy, which garnered success. His winning streak continued through the seventies with iconic films like the action-thriller Deewaar (1975), which catapulted Amitabh Bachchan to stardom; the musical romantic drama Kabhi Kabhie (1976), and the ensemble family drama Trishul (1978).
Chopra crafted two of his magnum opuses with Sridevi: the romantic musical Chandni (1989), which played a pivotal role in veering Bollywood away from violent themes towards romantic musicals, and Lamhe (1991), an intergenerational romantic drama, which, despite underperforming domestically, enjoyed overseas success.

Following the critically lacking Parampara (1993), he helmed the musical psychological thriller Darr (1993), marking the onset of his collaborative journey with Shahrukh Khan. This partnership flourished with romantic hits like Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Veer-Zaara (2004), and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). Although he announced his retirement in 2012, his dedication saw him working until his demise during the production of Jab Tak Hai Jaan due to dengue fever. Yash Raj Chopra’s directorial legacy, embodied in his extensive work, cements his position as one of Bollywood’s timeless directors.