Karan Johar and Yash Chopra are two of the most influential and successful filmmakers in the history of Hindi cinema. They have given us some of the most iconic and memorable films, such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara, and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. But did you know that they are also related by blood? Yes, you read that right. Karan Johar is the nephew of Yash Chopra, and the cousin of Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra. How is that possible? Let’s find out.
The Chopra Family Tree
The Chopra family is one of the most prominent and influential families in Bollywood. It all started with Baldev Raj Chopra, also known as B.R. Chopra, who was a film journalist and director. He was born in Lahore, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan) in 1914. He had six siblings, including Yash Chopra, who was born in 1932. B.R. Chopra moved to Mumbai after the partition of India in 1947, and started his own production company, B.R. Films. He made some of the most acclaimed and successful films of his time, such as Naya Daur, Sadhna, Waqt, Gumrah, and Humraaz.
Yash Chopra followed his elder brother’s footsteps and became an assistant director to him. He made his directorial debut with Dhool Ka Phool in 1959, which was a melodrama about illegitimacy. He then directed Dharmputra in 1961, which was a social drama about communalism. He rose to fame with Waqt in 1965, which was the first multi-starrer film in Bollywood. He then founded his own production company, Yash Raj Films, in 1970. His first film under his banner was Daag: A Poem of Love in 1973, which was a melodrama about polygamy. He went on to make some of the most popular and successful films of his career, such as Deewaar, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Silsila, Chandni, Lamhe, Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara, and Jab Tak Hai Jaan.
Yash Chopra married Pamela Singh in 1970. They had two sons, Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra. Aditya Chopra followed his father’s footsteps and became a director and producer. He made his directorial debut with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995, which is one of the most loved and longest-running films in Bollywood history. He then directed Mohabbatein in 2000, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in 2008, and Befikre in 2016. He also produced several hit films under Yash Raj Films banner, such as DDLJ’s sequel Dilwale (2015), Dhoom series (2004-2013), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), Chak De! India (2007), Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Sultan (2016), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), War (2019), and Shershaah (2021).
Uday Chopra also became an actor and producer. He made his acting debut with Mohabbatein in 2000. He then acted in several films such as Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002), Dhoom series (2004-2013), Pyaar Impossible! (2010), and Grace of Monaco (2014). He also produced some films under Yash Raj Films banner, such as Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011), Ishaqzaade (2012), Shuddh Desi Romance (2013), Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015), and Hichki (2018).
The Johar Family Tree
The Johar family is also one of the most prominent and influential families in Bollywood. It all started with Yash Johar, who was a film producer and the founder of Dharma Productions. He was born in Amritsar, Punjab, British India (now in India) in 1929. He started his career as an assistant to I.S. Johar (no relation) and then worked with Sunil Dutt’s production company Ajanta Arts. He then joined Dev Anand’s production company Navketan Films as a production manager.
Yash Johar married Hiroo Chopra in 1969. Hiroo Chopra is the sister of Yash Chopra and B.R. Chopra. She is also a film producer and the co-owner of Dharma Productions. They had one son, Karan Johar, who was born in 1972. Karan Johar made his acting debut with Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995, where he played the role of Shah Rukh Khan’s friend. He then made his directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998, which was a blockbuster hit and won him several awards. He then directed and produced several hit films under Dharma Productions banner, such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), My Name Is Khan (2010), Student of the Year (2012), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), and Takht (upcoming).
Karan Johar became a father to twins, Yash Johar and Roohi Johar, through surrogacy in 2017. He named his son after his father, and his daughter’s name is an anagram of his mother’s name.
The Bollywood Connection
Karan Johar and Yash Chopra are related by blood as they are nephew and uncle respectively. They are also related by their passion for filmmaking and their contribution to the Hindi film industry. They have both given us some of the most memorable and successful films in Bollywood history, spanning across different genres and themes. They have also launched and nurtured the careers of several actors, such as Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Vicky Kaushal, and many more.
Karan Johar and Yash Chopra have also collaborated on some films together. Karan Johar assisted Yash Chopra in directing Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in 1995. He also co-produced Veer-Zaara in 2004 and Jab Tak Hai Jaan in 2012 with Yash Chopra. He also paid tribute to Yash Chopra by naming his film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil after a song from Yash Chopra’s film Silsila.
Karan Johar and Yash Chopra are not only related by blood but also by their love for cinema. They have both left a lasting legacy in Bollywood and have inspired generations of filmmakers and audiences alike. They are truly the kings of romance and the masters of storytelling.
