Yash Raj Chopra 1932 - 2012

TIMELINE

SEPTEMBER 27, 1932
Yash Chopra was born in Lahore (British India) to an accountant in the PWD division of the British Punjab administration, the youngest of eight children.


1959
Made his directorial debut with Dhool Ka Phool, a film on how society treats single mothers and a Muslim bringing up an ‘illegitimate’ Hindu child. The film was produced by BR Chopra.


1960s
The 60s were the best years for produce-director team of Chopra brothers who gave some of the biggest hits of the decade. The most notable was Waqt (1965), India's first multi-starrer. Ittefaq (1969), a critically acclaimed thriller, marked the end of their partnership.

1970
Chopra married Pamela Singh. They went on to have two children, Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra -- both well-established in Bollywood today

1973
Chopra brothers officially parted ways, with Yash Chopra setting up his own studio, which we know today as Yash Raj Films.

1975
He turned a struggling, awkwardly tall actor named Amitabh Bachchan into an angry young superstar with cult classic Deewaar.

1976
Chopra’s next two films Kabhi Kabhie made Amitabh Bachchan the most loved Indian actor in the country

1980s
The King of Romance hit a rough patch. His films Silsila (1981), Faasle (1985), Mashaal (1984) and Vijay (1988) crashed at the BO. In 1989, he bounced back with a musical love triangle Chandni (1989) starring Sridevi, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor.

1990s
This was the decade when Chopra redefined Bollywood and gave films like Lamhe (1991, director), Darr (1993, director), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995, producer) and Dil to Pagal Hai (1997, director).
A decade after Amitabh Bachchan’s rise to superstardom, it was now the turn of SRK, and both actors have never hesitated in crediting YRF for it

In 2004, YRF returned to film direction after a brief sabbatical with Veer-Zaara (2004). He was currently directing Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), when he announced his retirement just weeks before his death.

TWO NATIONAL AWARDS
Dil To Pagal Hai (1998) and Veer Zaara (2005) -- and 11 Filmfare awards

HONOURS AND RECOGNITIONS
Padma Bhushan in 2005.
France's highest civilian honour, Legion of Honour
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
Dadasaheb Phalke Award and
Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Millennium Lifetime Achievement award in 2001
A lifetime membership to BAFTA .

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

Yash Chopra’s first stint in films was under I.S. Johar. His first foray into direction, however, was as an assisstant director with elder brother BR Chopra in Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari starrer classic Ek Hi Raasta (1956). He had more films with love triangles than any other Bollywood director.
Lamhe flopped in India but went on to become one of the biggest Bollywood grossers in the overseas market.
His films were mostly romantic films, with shots from foreign locations and having high-quality music.