What Was Yash Chopra's Net Worth?
Yash Chopra was an influential Indian film director and producer with a net worth of $50 million at the time of his death in 2012. He was a prominent figure in Hindi cinema and the founding chairman of Yash Raj Films.
Early Life
Born Yash Raj Chopra on September 27, 1932, in Lahore, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan), Yash was the youngest of eight siblings. His father served as an accountant in the British Punjab administration. Initially, Yash planned to pursue engineering, studying at Doaba College Jalandhar. However, the Partition of India led him to Ludhiana, East Punjab, India, where his passion for cinema propelled him to move to Bombay and work as an assistant director to I.S. Johar. He later collaborated with his brother, B.R. Chopra, an already established director and producer.
Career Highlights
Yash Chopra's directorial debut came in 1959 with the social drama 'Dhool Ka Phool', produced by his brother. The film was critically acclaimed and a commercial success. He continued with another social drama, 'Dharmaputra', in 1961, which tackled the sensitive issue of the Partition of India.
Chopra's 1965 film 'Waqt', also produced by his brother, became a landmark in Indian cinema, earning him his first Filmfare Award for Best Director. Subsequently, in 1969, he directed 'Aadmi Aur Insaan' and the mystery thriller 'Ittefaq', the latter noted for lacking musical elements, unusual for Hindi films at the time.
In 1970, Chopra founded Yash Raj Films, producing his first film, 'Daag: A Poem of Love', in 1973. The film was both a critical and commercial success. His collaborations with actor Amitabh Bachchan in films like 'Deewaar', 'Trishul', 'Kabhi Kabhie', and 'Silsila' became iconic.
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Chopra faced setbacks in the 1980s, with several films failing at the box office. However, he bounced back with the 1989 romantic musical 'Chandni', which won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film. 'Lamhe' followed, achieving critical acclaim and success in international markets. However, 'Parampara' in 1992, despite its star cast, did not impress critics or audiences.
His 1993 psychological thriller 'Darr' was a major success, adding to his repertoire of cult classics. 'Dil To Pagal Hai' in 1997 became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year, noted for being the first Hindi film shot in Germany. After a hiatus of seven years from directing, Chopra returned with 'Veer-Zaara' in 2004, which was a historic blockbuster. In September 2012, he announced 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' would be his final film as a director.
Chopra received numerous accolades, including six National Film Awards, eight Filmfare Awards, and five honorary doctorates. The Government of India honored him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005. He was also the first Indian recipient of a lifetime membership from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2006.
Personal Life and Death
In 1970, Chopra married Pamela Singh, with whom he had two sons – Aditya and Uday. Aditya followed his father's footsteps to become a respected film director and producer, holding significant positions at Yash Raj Films. Uday initially worked as an assistant director before transitioning to acting, debuting in 2000 with 'Mohabbatein'.
Yash Chopra was diagnosed with dengue fever on October 13, 2012, and was hospitalized at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. He passed away a week later due to multiple organ failure at the age of 80. His final rites were conducted at Pawan Hans crematorium, and a Chautha ceremony was held at Yash Raj Films studio. The Yash Chopra Memorial Award was instituted in his honor the following year by the TSR Foundation, celebrating outstanding contributions to the arts annually in Mumbai.
