On September 27 every year, Bollywood remembers the classic filmmaker Yash Chopra fondly on his birth anniversary. This year, the day is even more special. Late Mr. Chopra, in 1970, established one of Bollywood's biggest and prestigious production house Yash Raj Films. Today, it completes 50 years. Making the occasion special and remembering his father fondly for his hard effort and determination, Aditya Chopra, the current head honcho of YRF, penned a heartfelt note.
YRF, on their social media handles, shared the note. Aditya started the note by recalling how late Mr. Chopra, who was a salaried employee of his brother late BR Chopra's company, established his own production house without experience and knowledge of managing a business. "All he had was a strong belief in his talent and hardwork and a dream to be self-reliant. That conviction of a creative man backing nothing but himself and his art, gave to Yash Raj Films. V Shantaram, who owned Rajkamal Studios, graciously gave him a small room in his studio for his office. My father didn't know then, that the small company that he started in a tiny room, would one day become the biggest film company of the Indian Film Industry," Aditya wrote.
50 years of celebrating movies, 50 years of entertaining you. On this occasion #AdityaChopra pens down a heartfelt note. #YRF50 pic.twitter.com/Pfj182ylvy
— Yash Raj Films (@yrf) September 27, 2020
Talking about his directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Aditya said the film's success gave him the confidence to give wings to some crazy risky ideas he had for the future of YRF. "I had foreseen the advent of international corporate studios coming to India and taking over our business. I wanted us to achieve a certain scale, so that we could retain our independence before they came in. My father contradicted his own conservative mindset and bravely indulged all my bold initiatives. And in a span of 10 quick years, we went from a film production house to India's fully integrated independent film studio," he continued.
As the studio completes 50 years, Aditya wrote, "Today, we enter the 50th year of Yash Raj Films. So, as I write this note, I'm trying to figure out what exactly is the secret of this 50 year success? What makes a company flourish for 50 years? Is it the creative genius of Yash Chopra? The audacious vision of his 25 year old upstart son? Or is it just plain luck? It’s none of the above. Its the PEOPLE. The people who worked in each and every YRF film for the last 50 years. My dad used to describe his journey with a poet’s line- Main akela hi chala tha janib-e-manzil magar, log saath aate gaye aur karvaan banta gaya (I walked all alone towards my destination, people kept joining and the caravan kept growing). Its taken me 25 years to fully understand this. The secret of YRF 50 are the PEOPLE..."
Aditya thanked the actors, crew, producers, directors and others. "But it’s not only YRF that is made by these artists and workers; it’s the entire Indian Film Industry. This is not only YRF’s success, it’s the success of the Indian Film Industry, which gave the platform for a self-made man to create a self-reliant, truly independent studio of the world. An industry, which gives an equal opportunity to each artist and worker to make a life for himself and his family. On behalf of my entire YRF family of artists, workers and employees, I thank the Indian Film Industry for allowing YRF to be part of your great heritage. The Industry where I met the most wonderful, talented and beautiful people. The Industry I hope to be part of in every lifetime...in any capacity whatsoever," he said.
(Source: Twitter)
