Yash Chopra Death Anniversary: Filmmaker's 5 Iconic Movies With Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan

YASH CHOPRA DEATH ANNIVERSARY: Yash Raj Chopra, an iconic film director and producer, is known for his outstanding contributions to Hindi cinema. Starting his professional journey in 1959, he founded production company, Yash Raj Films, in 1970. The maestro left for his heavenly abode on October 21, 2012. He is celebrated till date for his captivating romantic films that feature strong female leads.

As the founding chairman of Yash Raj Films, he earned several accolades, including six National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards. Yash Chopra also received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005.

Today, on his 11th death anniversary, let’s remember some of the iconic films directed or produced by him with Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead.

1. Mohabbatein (2000)The iconic movie, Mohabbatein, deserves to top the list as it was the only collaboration between the legendary trio of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Yash Raj Chopra. It is considered one of the best movies of Yash Raj Films that showcased college principal Narayan’s (played by Bachchan) intolerance for love and how a music teacher, Raj (played by Khan), eventually changed his perception. Mohabbatein was a box office hit as it grossed over Rs 90 crore and was made on a budget of Rs 13 crore.
2. Deewar (1975)Amitabh Bachchan was one of the favourite heros to be casted in Yash Raj’s films and the duo didn’t disappoint the audience in Deewar. The 1975 classic features two impoverished brothers who are forced to live in the slums and eventually end up on the opposing sides of law. The word Deewar refers to the unseen wall between the brothers that has led them apart due to socio-political turmoil. The movie did well in the box office as it collected Rs 7.5 crore against a budget of Rs 1.3 crore.
3. Silsila (1981)In 1981, Yash Raj produced Silsila, which featured a love triangle among characters essayed by Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha. The film depicted an extramarital affair between Amit (played by Amitabh Bachchan) and Chandni (played by Rekha), his former lover, while his wife, Shobha (played by Jaya Bachchan), was initially ignorant of it. The movie gained massive popularity from media owing to the rumours of Amitabh having an extramarital affair with Rekha in real life. The film, however, grossed only Rs 3 crore, failing at the box office. Nonetheless, it is still a worthy flick to watch.
4. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)The 1995 movie stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in titular roles and acted as the superstar’s claim to fame. The on-screen couple got immense recognition after the iconic movie was released and their chemistry was cherished by fans and critics. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge depicts how Raj (played by Khan) and Simran (played by Kajol) fall in love and the former tries to win over his lover’s family. The film smashed box office records and collected Rs 200 crore against a budget of Rs 40 crore.
5. Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)While Yash Raj collaborated with King Khan in other movies, Jab Tak Hai Jaan deserves a special spot in the list as it is the producer’s last movie. Jab Tak Hai Jaan features SRK, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in the lead. The film’s narrative revolves around Samar Anand (played by Shah Rukh Khan), an expert in bomb disposal. His diary ends up in the possession of intern Akira Rai (played by Anushka Sharma). Akira reads the diary and gets to know about Samar’s experiences as a striving immigrant in London, while also learning about his passionate and whirlwind love story with Meera Thapar (played by Katrina Kaif). The film showcased a love triangle among the three characters.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan was released on November 13, 2012, a few weeks after Yash Raj’s demise. It performed exceptionally well at the box office and grossed Rs 235.66 crore against a budget of Rs 78 crore.