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Yash Chopra addressing at the inauguration of 41st International Film Festival by Ministry of Education and broadcasting-

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Yash Chopra

Yash Raj Chopra, born in 27th September 1932 was an Indian film director and film producer who worked in Hindi cinema. He founded and chaired a film and distribution company known as Yash Raj Films.

Chopra was considered one of the best Indian film makers and was the recipient of several awards including six National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards among others. The British Academy of Film and Television presented him with a life time membership making him the first Indian to receive the honor.

Apart from his widely publicized accomplishment, here is a list of some interesting facts about the legend you might not be aware of.

1.Yash Chopra Is The King Of Romance

Manoj Kumar and Yash Chopra by Creativo Camaal of Lens Naayak Photography-

Yash Chopra is regarded as the King of Romance. The Indian filmmaker brought to life a world of romance in his films, from the exotic locations to the sophisticated costumes that draped beautiful women to the poetry that topped off the scenes.

His genius brought to life love in a way not many can capture and was hard to miss. The poetry is what really made the love scenes as all his films had classy iconic poetry beautifully written for women.

Even how he met his wife at the airport, Pamela Chopra and ended up missing his flight is truly a King of Romance moment.

2.He Started Out As An Assistant Film Producer For His Brother

Another interesting fact was that Chopra started his legendary career working as an assistant to his brother Baldev Raj Chopra who was a director and producer at the time. He went ahead and directed about five films while still under his brother’s banner before setting up his own production company, Yash Raj Films.

3.Chopra Directed Many Cult Classics That Revolutionized Indian Film Industry

Cult classics that he directed such as Chandhi, Dil Toh Pagal Hai are among the most famous works he directed that are credited with bringing an end to violent films in the Indian film industry. He had never been shy of venturing into bold and controversial themes that were not just simple messages of film.

Chopra managed to weave into socially relevant messages within the parameters of commercial cinemas. The art in which he managed to deliver messages as well as bring a film to life managed to bridge the gap between the older generation and younger generations worldwide which is what made his films such classics.

4.He Unearthed Numerous Talents In The Industry

Javed Akhatar career as a lyricist began with Yash Chopra’s film Silsila. It was Yash Chopra that inspired Javed to be a lyricist among many others. Chopra unearthed new composers, new singers and acting talent, almost all of whom went on to great heights in the Indian film industry.

Being part of a Yash Chopra film was the culmination of the fondest dream for any talent in Indian whether it was creative or technical. The man had a nose for refined raw talent and he was able to tap into that in many and bring out the best in them.

5.Yash Chopra Wanted To Be An Engineer

Engineers at work by Rasheedhrasheed –

In another life, young Yash Raj Chopra considered a career in engineering and had even started to attend classes in London. This was before he joined his brother in producing and directing films that wetted his appetite and ignited a passion to thrive in the industry.

He went on to produce five films before starting his own company and the path he was on in engineering school disappeared but a new one opened up.

6.A Train And A Lake In Switzerland Are Named After Him

Switzerland was his favorite place to shoot his films so much so that there is a train named after him in Switzerland as well as a lake in Alpenrausch that was a favorite shooting spot of his has been nicknamed the Chopra Lake.

To many South Asians, Yash Chopra films were a passport to a world outside the one they inhabited. He was among the first directors to take his camera to countries such as Switzerland, United Kingdom, Holland and Germany.

This often led to a direct tourist increase to those countries and the governments took note of this direct co relation.

7.He Repeated His Actors On Many Of His Films

Another interesting fact about Chopra’s film is that his last four films he made with the famous actor Shah Rukh Khan. He had a habit of repeating the actors in his films and frequently casts them for most his films.

8.Chopra Died Doing What He Loved

He passed away in October 2012 at the age of eighty due to Dengue fever shortly after he announced his retirement. This was during the filming of Jab Tak Hai Jaan that was a fine film to wrap up decades of fine work.

There could not have been a more fitting end. The final film he directed was released posthumously in November 2012 to an overwhelming response worldwide and was one of the top grossers of the year.

9.He Was The Most Awarded Film Maker In India

Yash Chopra being awarded the Travellers Diamond Awards by Ministry of Tourism –

Perhaps the most interesting fact about Yash Raj Chopra apart from his amazing genius to create such cinematic classic films was the distinct accolades that he received for doing so. He was the only Indian filmmaker to have won the Indian National Film Award for the best popular film five times.

Chopra also received a number of Filmfare awards including twelve nominations, four wins for best director and fifteen nominations and four wins for best film.

10.Yash Chopra Received Life Time Awards Both In India And England

Yash Chopra Stamp of India by India Post Government of India –

The Indian government honored him with a life time award Dadasaheb Phalke Award for a lifetime achievement in cinema in 2001 and in 2005, he received one of the highest civilian honors, the Padma Bhushan.

These distinct awards were in addition to the life time membership he received from the British Academy of Film and Television for his remarkable talents. He was also a member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2006.

Yash Chopra was more than a director and producer alone. The corporatization of the Hindi film industry owes its start to his efforts. With his vast experiences in the industry, he was a leader in his own right to the media and entertainment scene in India and these interesting facts only make the loss of such a legend only that much more felt in the film making community.