Here's Why Aditya Chopra is First & Foremost A Great Director
Aditya Chopra’s directorial venture Befikre will be releasing in December of this year. The film stars Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor and is being currently shot in Paris. In a career that has lasted for over two decades, the film is only the fourth time Aditya Chopra is ever directing.
Son of the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra, Aditya Chopra is also the chief executive of the country’s biggest production house: YRF Films. And that means producing the films produced under the banner.
But, deep down, he is a creative and not an executive. In the large gaps between his films, he frequently writes for films that YRF produces. Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer Zaara, Dhoom trilogy, Ek Tha Tiger and Fan are some of the films whose script he has contributed towards.
However, what we really associate with him is his directing. Having made his first film in 1995, Befikre would only be his fourth film. But like his father, each film that he makes has that magical quality to it that proves what his innate talents as a director.
Let’s review them all:
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
His first film as a director might well his best one. Best or not, what the film is really known is for its impact. Two lesser-known faces and a first time director made a film about individual freedom, family pressure, and most importantly, love, and the whole nation was hooked. In 2015, after more than 1000 weeks of its release, the film's screening stoppeed for the first time at Maratha Mandir in Mumbai. However, after a negotiation with Yash Raj Films, the theatre started screening the film again. Impact.
Mohabbatein (2000)
His follow-up to the grand DDLJ was extravagant in its own way. For one, the film had 6 debutants. And also because, two of the biggest stars in Bollywood – Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan – shared the screen for the first time. The campus romance-drama was critically appreciated and became one of the top-grossing films of the year. Also, it had Aishwarya Rai playing a ghost and a beautiful soundtrack.
Rab Ne Bana De Jodi (2008)
When it felt like that he would never make another movie, Aditya Chopra came up with Rab Ne Bana De Jodi. The film, which once again employed Shah Rukh Khan as its lead, marked the debut of Anushka Sharma. To be frank, not much was expected of the film at the time. The film was released just a few weeks after the terror attacks in Mumbai and had limited promotion as a result. Also, the film opened close to Aamir Khan's Ghajini, which had heavy public interest in comparison. But the sweet nature of the film and Shah Rukh Khan's versatile performance was enough to make the film a success among the critics and audience alike.
Befikre (2016)
After another prolonged absence from directing, Aditya Chopra will be returning this year with Befikre. This is the first film of his that won't have Shah Rukh Khan in its cast. Also, as compared to his other films, the film would be made on a smaller budget and would be the first time Aditya Chopra won't be attempting a clear-cut blockbuster for the masses. The film will be experimental in its nature and will see the return of Vishal-Shekhar to the Yash Raj banner.
However, Befikre turns out to be, nobody can take away anything Aditya Chopra's contribution to Indian films. But what we really hope is that he takes smaller gaps between his films.