In 1973, Chopra founded his own production company, Yash Raj Films and launched it with Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), a successful melodrama about a polygamous man. His success continued in the seventies, with some of Indian cinema's most successful and iconic films, including the action thriller Deewar (1975) which established Amitabh Bachchan as the leading actor in Bollywood, the romantic drama Kabhie Kabhie (1976) and Trishul (1978). From the late seventies till 1989 marked a professional setback in Chopra's career as several films he produced or directed in that period failed to leave a mark at the Indian box office, notably Doosra Aadmi, Kaala Pathar, Silsila (1981), Mashaal (1984), Faasle (1985) and Vijay (1988) were his productions. However, in 1989, Chopra directed the commercially and critically successful cult film Chandni which became instrumental in ending the era of violent films in Bollywood and returning musicals.
Chopra then directed and produced the cult classic Lamhe in 1991. Considered by critics and Chopra himself as his best work to date, the film became one of the biggest Bollywood hits in the overseas market. In 1992 he directed Parampara which was critically panned. Chopra followed it with the box-office hit and trend setter Darr (1993). Starring Shahrukh Khan in his debut, it showed a sympathetic look at obsessive love and defied the image of the conventional hero. Since then, Chopra directed three more romantic films, all starring Khan; Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Veer-Zaara (2004) and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) before he announced his retirement from directing in 2012.
Chopra founded and was chairman of the motion picture production and distribution company Yash Raj Films, which ranks as India's biggest production company as of 2006, as well as the founder of Yash Raj Studios.
Chopra's career has spanned over five decades and over 50 films and is considered one of the leading filmmakers in the history of Hindi cinema. He came to be known as the "King of romance" of the Indian cinema. Chopra has won several film awards, including six National Film Awards, eleven Filmfare awards and four Filmfare Award for Best Director. The Government of India honoured him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005 for his contributions towards Indian cinema. BAFTA presented him with a lifetime membership for his contribution to the films, making him the first Indian to receive the honour.
Producer:
Daag (1973)
Kabhi Kabhie (1976)
Doosra Aadmi (1977)
Trishul (1978)
Noorie (1979)
Kaala Pathar (1979)
Silsila (1981)
Nakhuda (1981)
Sawaal (1982)
Mashaal (1984)
Faasle (1985)
Vijay (1988)
Chandni (1989)
Lamhe (1991)
Darr (1993)
Aaina (1993)
Yeh Dillagi (1994)
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
Humko Ishq Ne Maara (Telefilm) (1997)
Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)
Mohabbatein (2000)
Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002)
Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002)
Saathiya (2002)
Hum Tum (2004)
Dhoom (2004)
Veer-Zaara (2004)
Bunty Aur Babli (2005)
Salaam Namaste (2005)
Neal N Nikki (2005)
Fanaa (2006)
Dhoom 2 (2006)
Kabul Express (2006)
Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)
Chak De India (2007)
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007)
Aaja Nachle (2007)
Tashan (2008)
Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008)
Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008)
Roadside Romeo (2008)
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
New York (2009)
Dil Bole Hadippa (2009)
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009)
Pyaar Impossible (2010)
Band Baaja Baaraat (2010)
Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (2011)
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)
Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011)
Ishaqzaade (2012)
Ek Tha Tiger (2012)
Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)
Director
Movie Name Year of Release
1 Dhool Ka Phool. 1959
2 Dharmputra 1961
3 Waqt 1965
4 Aadmi Aur Insaan 1969
5 Ittefaq 1969
6 Daag 1973
7 Joshila 1973
8 Deewaar 1975
9 Kabhi Kabhie 1976
10 Trishul 1978
11 Kaala Patthar 1979
12 Silsila 1981
13 Mashaal 1984
14 Faasle 1985
15 Vijay 1988
16 Chandni 1989
17 Lamhe 1991
18 Parampara 1991
19 Darr 1993
20 Dil To Pagal Hai 1997
21 Veer-Zaara 2004
22 Jab Tak Hai Jaan 2012
National Film Awards:
1990, National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Chandni
1994, National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Darr
1996, National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1998, National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Dil To Pagal Hai
2005, National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Veer-Zaara
Film fare Awards:
1965, Filmfare Best Director Award, Waqt
1969, Filmfare Best Director Award, Ittefaq
1973, Filmfare Best Director Award, Daag
1975, Filmfare Best Director Award, Deewar
1991, Filmfare Best Movie Award, Lamhe
1995, Filmfare Best Movie Award, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1997, Filmfare Best Movie Award, Dil To Pagal Hai
2004, Filmfare Best Movie Award, Veer-Zaara
2006, Filmfare Power Award
2007, Filmfare Power Award
2008, Filmfare Power Award
Honours and recognitions:
1. 2005: Padma Bhushan, one of the country's highest civilian honours.
France's highest civilian honour, Legion of Honour,
2. Vice President of the Film Producers’ Guild of India for the last 10 years.
Handpicked by the British Film Institute for a book written by Rachel Dwyer in their ‘World Directors Series’. This book showcases the glorious five-decade career of Yash Chopra.
3. Pusan International Film Festival – Asian Filmmaker of the Year, 2009
Honoured along with the Egyptian comedy superstar Adel Imam and the Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman as the Asian, Arab and Hollywood honorees in the Dubai International Film Festival "In the Spotlight", which honours the work of eminent actors, producers and directors from around the world for their distinguished service to the film industry.
4. Honoured by the Swiss Government for rediscovering Switzerland and recently, he was presented a Special Award by Ursula Andress on behalf of the Swiss Government.
5. Currently on the Advisory Board of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry of the Government of India.
6. Founder Trustee of Film Industry Welfare Trust established in the year 1996.
7. Received the BBC Asia Awards twice – in 1998 and 2001 for his outstanding contribution in films.
8. Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Millennium Lifetime Achievement award in 2001.
9. Certificate of Recognition from the British Tourist Authority and British Film Commission for promoting tourism in the UK through his films.
10. Vocational Excellence Award by the Rotary Club
Outstanding Achievement Awards by the apex bodies of Indian Industry – like the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry).
11. He was honoured by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) at Malaysia for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
12. Honoured by NAASCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) and AIAI (All India Association of Industries) for his outstanding achievements.
13. He has also been awarded the Priyadarshini Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
14. Phalke Award for 2001, the topmost and the highest honour given in the Indian film industry.
15. He had been given the Maharastra state government’s Raj Kapoor and V. Shantaram’ Awards, in recognition of his impressive contributions to the Hindi film industry.
16. Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Pune International Film Festival 2006 [P.I.F.F.]
17. A lifetime membership to BAFTA for his contribution to the Indian film industry. He is the first Indian to be honoured at BAFTA in 59-year history of the academy.
18. On 13 November 2007, Chopra was conferred the Zenith Asia Honour for his contribution to Indian cinema.
19. FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
20. National Kishore Kumar Award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Swiss Ambassador's Award 2010 for his contribution in promoting 'Brand Switzerland' through his movies.
21. In October 2010 he was given the Outstanding Achievement in Cinema award at The Asian Awards.
22. In 2011 Chopra was honoured with the title of Ambassador of Interlaken.
Honorary Doctorate degrees:
2004: by the Guru Nanak University, Amritsar, India in recognition of his stature as a leading luminary of India.
2007: by the Leeds Metropolitan University in Yorkshire
2008: by the Punjab University, Chandigarh, India for his contribution to Indian cinema.
2010: from the School of Oriental and African Studies.
2012 Honorary Professorship from Trinity College Dublin.
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