Aditya Chopra

Aditya Chopra is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, broadcast producer and distributor. His work as a director includes Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Mohabbatein (2000), Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) and Befikre (2016) (his entry into nu-experimental cinema). He is also the current chairman of multi-national film, media and entertainment conglomerate, Yash Raj Films (YRF). Chopra has written and produced a number of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films under the banner like Veer-Zaara (2004), Fanaa (2006), Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), The Dhoom Trilogy (2004, 2006 & 2013) and Sultan (2016). He has tried to break away from typecast and forayed into production of off-beat films with unique subjects in projects like Kabul Express (2006), Chak De India (2007), Rocket Singh (2009), Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) and Fan (2016), that do not necessarily fit into the realms of Masala films. Chopra is also the first Indian film producer to move towards a true film studio model through independent projects helmed by producers, writers and directors under his YRF banner. Major production and post-production work of the company is now carried out of YRF Studios, (co-founded by Payal Khanna (design) and Yash Chopra (production) in the year 2006) where Chopra serves as Chief Executive. As of July 2016, Chopra has directed the longest running theatrical film of world cinema, produced the third highest-grossing film of Indian cinema and has theatrically distributed the sixth highest-grossing film of Indian cinema. He has produced eight other films that have accumulated worldwide gross earnings of more than INR 200 crore (which is the most for an Indian film producer). Apart from emerging as the most equitable brand in Indian entertainment, his company has earned the status of a movie mogul in the Indian market, through the years of its existence. YRF is often credited for breaking away from the small business model that was historically used by the Indian film industry and introducing a rigid hub and spoke model by establishing distribution networks across the globe. With a majority of its films (especially produced by Chopra) being part of the highest grossing Indian films of all time, the company is estimated to be net worth of ₹6,200 crore (US$920 million) (as of second quarter of Fiscal 2015) by multiple NSE and BSE analysts, thereby making it the biggest and most successful film production company in the history of Indian cinema. The Directorate of Film Festivals has awarded him the National Award for his contribution to Indian Cinema, on three separate years (1995, 2005, 2007) through the Government of India. Chopra has however remained extremely media-shy and has battled constant reports of an alleged social anxiety disorder and/or APD, throughout his two-decade career.

Born on: 21 May, 1971

Born in: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India