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Some films are just made and they go on to make history. They create and break records which are not easy to repeat again. Like I am very sure that even Aditya Chopra will never be able to make another Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge again, specially in these days when massive, ambitious, star-studded and spectacular films and their makers cry themselves hoarse when they complete a half-hearted run of 'fifty glorious days' and most fadeout after just the first three or four weeks and even an Amitabh Bachchan starrer like Nishabd directed by Ram Gopal Varma fizzles within the first three days. Aditya's first film as a director DDLJ quietly entered its 601st week at the Maratha Mandir in Mumbai. Now tell me if this is not a world record then what is? And tell me if this record can be beaten by anyone, even by Aditya's great 'Baap', Yash Chopra in this age of multiplexes when twenty-four shows of a film are run at the same time in just one suburb. Not possible unless the God of yash (victory) works another miracle again - and even that seems to be a remote possibility, a distant dream.
A lot of water has flown below the Ganga, the Jamuna and all the rivers of the country ever since the film was released. The industry has changed on its head, for the better or the worse only the experts, the historians and time will tell. At this moment I am very interested to know what changes have come over the team that worked for and in DDLJ.
Yash Chopra was a big filmmaker even before he decided to launch his son Aditya as a director with DDLJ. He had all the faith in Aditya and gave him the complete freedom to make his film the way he wanted, with guidance, yes, but interference not at all. And Aditya kept the faith his father had in him and made a film according to his own tastes and sensibilities and when he showed it to his father, the father was extremely emotional and cried with joy and went to sleep peacefully that night. He was sure his banner, Yash Raj Films was in safe hands, the hands of his son, Aditya.
The making of DDLJ was the beginning of a new life for Yash Chopra. He himself was inspired to direct two major films after his son's films, Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer Zaara, each a master piece in its own way. He had Aditya standing by him like a rock when he made his films. The son made it point to see that he was not directing any film while his father was at work. He wanted to be of help, to be a support if and when needed. Yash then saw his son take the initiative to invite young and talented directors to make films under his father's banner and every director he selected made some of their best films and did good to themselves and to the Yash Raj banner. Yash saw the greatest happening in his life when his son took one big step to build a state of the art studio where they could make their own films and let other film makers make films when they weren't. That dream seen by the son and encouraged by the father is a magnificent reality, men's outstanding achievement which makes the Gods smile and the sun proud when it rises every morning. Good things have happened to Yash after DDLJ. He has had books written about him by film scholars abroad. He has been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award the Padmabhushan from the Govt. of India and several important awards at festivals all over the world. He is an emperor of dreams, who makes his dreams come true with his son inspiring him all the way. He is, whether he likes it or not, the number one filmmaker today and history has already recorded it and posterity will always remember him like that.
Aditya is the most low-profile humble and yet most powerful man in the industry. His father is the emperor but he is the commander without whose final orders nothing or no one moves. Aditya has created his place of power with his hard work, his sheer confidence, his will power, his command over the medium and the ability to get the best out of every man and woman working under the Yash Raj banner. Love him or hate him, he goes right ahead with what he has on his mind. Whether it is the selection of director, the stars and the technicians to work with them, it is his word that matters. Everyone can have their say but his say is always the final say. The Yash Raj Studio is standing in Andheri in all its glory is his lasting contribution to Indian cinema. He has directed only one film after DDLJ, a film called Mohabbatein. He has taken time off to make Yash Raj Films a force to reckon with. His task will continue but he is already working on the script of his third film which the entire industry is eagerly looking forward to.
Shah Rukh Khan was on the rise when DDLJ was started. He was Aditya's first choice as the hero and he would have no one else. Shah Rukh and Aditya made a very good team during the entire making of the film. They called themselves 'soulmates'. Shah Rukh showed first signs of growing into a superstar with DDLJ when people saw the film hundred of times only for him and there was no stopping him after that. Look at where Shah Rukh is today. He is the 'Badshah', the 'Shehenshah' who lives in his own palace Mannat. Anything he touches turns to gold. He is in his forties and his achievements have given him the status to find a place at Madame Tussauds, moulded in wax, a distinction earned by only three Indians before him, Mahatma Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter in law 'Aishwarya Bachchan'. He has a book written about him already and he has so much still to do and so many ambitions to fulfill. The young khan who can do whatever he can today is one of the greatest success stories during this time when success stories are in short supply.
It was all love, fun and games during the making of the DDLJ for Kajol. She found an ideal director, an ideal hero, an ideal subject and an ideal team to work with and it was only natural for her to come up with her best. She proved to be an all rounder, absolutely natural, brilliant, pleasing to the eye, not very beautiful but dazzlingly beautiful in her own way. She was the ideal girl for the role and she did full justice to it and the reward was something no one expected. She was flooded with offers but she was not tempted. She was next brilliant only in a film called Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. She then took the caption of DDLJ, 'come fall in love' seriously and fell in love with her co-star in some films, Ajay Devgan, married him and quit films and was busy as Nysa's mother. But an actor like Kajol was not to be kept out for long. Kunal Kohli, an Aditya disciple was looking for a very good actress to be teamed against the amazing Aamir Khan. He talked to Kajol. She found the role very exciting, exciting enough to walk back to Yash Raj Studios and start work with Aamir for Kunal's Fanaa. It was Kajol who won all the major awards for her performance not Aamir surprisingly. Kajol is once again besieged to play all kinds of meaty roles but she has only agreed to play the leading lady in a film called U, Me Aur Hum in which Ajay her husband plays the leading man and also makes his debut as a director. Expect to see the unexpected from an actress like Kajol. That's what you can do. That's my bet.
If you remember DDLJ Shah Rukh had a timid, bespectacled friend on the train to love station. That boy was Aditya's best friend in real life, Karan who was his assistant, his actor, his whatever he wanted him to do. Who could have imagine that boy would rise to become the Karan Johar. Karan decided to direct his first big film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai inspired by his best friend SRK. He had two other friends, Kajol and Rani Mukerjee to inspire him and make a beautiful film which was also very successful. He was supported by his father, the friend of the world, Yash Johar. Yash 'uncle' as he was known to everyone fell a prey to cancer and died leaving Karan and his mother, Mrs. Hiroo Johar alone. Karan was too sensitive, he could have broken but surprisingly he grew stronger. He took charge of Dharma Productions, his father's banner. He gave break to his assistants, Soham (Kaal) and Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho). He was a television celebrity having his own talk show, Koffee with Karan and still is. Unlike his guru, Aditya, he was an outspoken young man. He could voice his opinion not only on films but on any subject in any forum and he was wanted as a speaker at important meetings, symposiums and seminars in the country and abroad. He was the true leader of his generation.
What happened to the others associated with DDLJ? Amrish Puri who was the highest paid villain played the most loving and caring father of Kajol, unfortunately died before he could really come up with his really best roles. So, did the great lyricist Anand Bakshi, who was the only old-timer who could match Aditya's expectations. He could understand Aditya's thinking and give him what he wanted and was the major reason for the success of the film.
Anupam Kher is still on top of the world as an actor, doing some of the best roles after more than twenty-five years. He directed a big film, Om Jai Jagdishand produced an award winning film, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara in which he also played a memorable role which won him acclaim and awards all over the world. He runs his own acting school, 'Actor Prepares' and has signed a whole lot of new films which will give him a new lease of life as an actor he believes. Mandira Bedi who had a brief as brief can be role in the film has not been able to make any headway in films but has taken everyone by surprise by turning into a cricket commentator who is considered able enough to pass comments on a World Cup series. That she is more talked about for her strapless and backless cholis and has her own critics is a different matter but she has made a place for herself and even set a trend for other girls to follow. The music director of the film Jatin and Lalit who have never been able to give the kind of music they gave in DDLJ, thanks to the Inspiration of the director, Aditya, have split and there is no reason to see any hope if they continue going their own ways. Manmohan Singh, the cinematographer-poet, who was a favourite of a both Yash and Aditya has taken a break from cinematography and has voluntarily taken the responsibility of saving Punjabi Cinema and giving it a new life.
Time changes, people change with the times but there are certain people who have the power to change both people and time. Yash Chopra and his son Aditya are the very few who are blessed with that power.
A lot of water has flown below the Ganga, the Jamuna and all the rivers of the country ever since the film was released. The industry has changed on its head, for the better or the worse only the experts, the historians and time will tell. At this moment I am very interested to know what changes have come over the team that worked for and in DDLJ.
Yash Chopra was a big filmmaker even before he decided to launch his son Aditya as a director with DDLJ. He had all the faith in Aditya and gave him the complete freedom to make his film the way he wanted, with guidance, yes, but interference not at all. And Aditya kept the faith his father had in him and made a film according to his own tastes and sensibilities and when he showed it to his father, the father was extremely emotional and cried with joy and went to sleep peacefully that night. He was sure his banner, Yash Raj Films was in safe hands, the hands of his son, Aditya.
The making of DDLJ was the beginning of a new life for Yash Chopra. He himself was inspired to direct two major films after his son's films, Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer Zaara, each a master piece in its own way. He had Aditya standing by him like a rock when he made his films. The son made it point to see that he was not directing any film while his father was at work. He wanted to be of help, to be a support if and when needed. Yash then saw his son take the initiative to invite young and talented directors to make films under his father's banner and every director he selected made some of their best films and did good to themselves and to the Yash Raj banner. Yash saw the greatest happening in his life when his son took one big step to build a state of the art studio where they could make their own films and let other film makers make films when they weren't. That dream seen by the son and encouraged by the father is a magnificent reality, men's outstanding achievement which makes the Gods smile and the sun proud when it rises every morning. Good things have happened to Yash after DDLJ. He has had books written about him by film scholars abroad. He has been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award the Padmabhushan from the Govt. of India and several important awards at festivals all over the world. He is an emperor of dreams, who makes his dreams come true with his son inspiring him all the way. He is, whether he likes it or not, the number one filmmaker today and history has already recorded it and posterity will always remember him like that.
Aditya is the most low-profile humble and yet most powerful man in the industry. His father is the emperor but he is the commander without whose final orders nothing or no one moves. Aditya has created his place of power with his hard work, his sheer confidence, his will power, his command over the medium and the ability to get the best out of every man and woman working under the Yash Raj banner. Love him or hate him, he goes right ahead with what he has on his mind. Whether it is the selection of director, the stars and the technicians to work with them, it is his word that matters. Everyone can have their say but his say is always the final say. The Yash Raj Studio is standing in Andheri in all its glory is his lasting contribution to Indian cinema. He has directed only one film after DDLJ, a film called Mohabbatein. He has taken time off to make Yash Raj Films a force to reckon with. His task will continue but he is already working on the script of his third film which the entire industry is eagerly looking forward to.
Shah Rukh Khan was on the rise when DDLJ was started. He was Aditya's first choice as the hero and he would have no one else. Shah Rukh and Aditya made a very good team during the entire making of the film. They called themselves 'soulmates'. Shah Rukh showed first signs of growing into a superstar with DDLJ when people saw the film hundred of times only for him and there was no stopping him after that. Look at where Shah Rukh is today. He is the 'Badshah', the 'Shehenshah' who lives in his own palace Mannat. Anything he touches turns to gold. He is in his forties and his achievements have given him the status to find a place at Madame Tussauds, moulded in wax, a distinction earned by only three Indians before him, Mahatma Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter in law 'Aishwarya Bachchan'. He has a book written about him already and he has so much still to do and so many ambitions to fulfill. The young khan who can do whatever he can today is one of the greatest success stories during this time when success stories are in short supply.
It was all love, fun and games during the making of the DDLJ for Kajol. She found an ideal director, an ideal hero, an ideal subject and an ideal team to work with and it was only natural for her to come up with her best. She proved to be an all rounder, absolutely natural, brilliant, pleasing to the eye, not very beautiful but dazzlingly beautiful in her own way. She was the ideal girl for the role and she did full justice to it and the reward was something no one expected. She was flooded with offers but she was not tempted. She was next brilliant only in a film called Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. She then took the caption of DDLJ, 'come fall in love' seriously and fell in love with her co-star in some films, Ajay Devgan, married him and quit films and was busy as Nysa's mother. But an actor like Kajol was not to be kept out for long. Kunal Kohli, an Aditya disciple was looking for a very good actress to be teamed against the amazing Aamir Khan. He talked to Kajol. She found the role very exciting, exciting enough to walk back to Yash Raj Studios and start work with Aamir for Kunal's Fanaa. It was Kajol who won all the major awards for her performance not Aamir surprisingly. Kajol is once again besieged to play all kinds of meaty roles but she has only agreed to play the leading lady in a film called U, Me Aur Hum in which Ajay her husband plays the leading man and also makes his debut as a director. Expect to see the unexpected from an actress like Kajol. That's what you can do. That's my bet.
If you remember DDLJ Shah Rukh had a timid, bespectacled friend on the train to love station. That boy was Aditya's best friend in real life, Karan who was his assistant, his actor, his whatever he wanted him to do. Who could have imagine that boy would rise to become the Karan Johar. Karan decided to direct his first big film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai inspired by his best friend SRK. He had two other friends, Kajol and Rani Mukerjee to inspire him and make a beautiful film which was also very successful. He was supported by his father, the friend of the world, Yash Johar. Yash 'uncle' as he was known to everyone fell a prey to cancer and died leaving Karan and his mother, Mrs. Hiroo Johar alone. Karan was too sensitive, he could have broken but surprisingly he grew stronger. He took charge of Dharma Productions, his father's banner. He gave break to his assistants, Soham (Kaal) and Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho). He was a television celebrity having his own talk show, Koffee with Karan and still is. Unlike his guru, Aditya, he was an outspoken young man. He could voice his opinion not only on films but on any subject in any forum and he was wanted as a speaker at important meetings, symposiums and seminars in the country and abroad. He was the true leader of his generation.
What happened to the others associated with DDLJ? Amrish Puri who was the highest paid villain played the most loving and caring father of Kajol, unfortunately died before he could really come up with his really best roles. So, did the great lyricist Anand Bakshi, who was the only old-timer who could match Aditya's expectations. He could understand Aditya's thinking and give him what he wanted and was the major reason for the success of the film.
Anupam Kher is still on top of the world as an actor, doing some of the best roles after more than twenty-five years. He directed a big film, Om Jai Jagdishand produced an award winning film, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara in which he also played a memorable role which won him acclaim and awards all over the world. He runs his own acting school, 'Actor Prepares' and has signed a whole lot of new films which will give him a new lease of life as an actor he believes. Mandira Bedi who had a brief as brief can be role in the film has not been able to make any headway in films but has taken everyone by surprise by turning into a cricket commentator who is considered able enough to pass comments on a World Cup series. That she is more talked about for her strapless and backless cholis and has her own critics is a different matter but she has made a place for herself and even set a trend for other girls to follow. The music director of the film Jatin and Lalit who have never been able to give the kind of music they gave in DDLJ, thanks to the Inspiration of the director, Aditya, have split and there is no reason to see any hope if they continue going their own ways. Manmohan Singh, the cinematographer-poet, who was a favourite of a both Yash and Aditya has taken a break from cinematography and has voluntarily taken the responsibility of saving Punjabi Cinema and giving it a new life.
Time changes, people change with the times but there are certain people who have the power to change both people and time. Yash Chopra and his son Aditya are the very few who are blessed with that power.
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