Yash Chopra to be honored in South Korea

Legendary Bollywood player Yash Chopra will be given a prestigious honor at one of the biggest entertainment events in Asia. Chopra will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at South Korea’s Pusan International Film Festival.

The glittering event, which runs from October 8 to 16, is regarded as one of the top cinema honors in Asia. Representatives of the festival have remarked that “as the most influential producer and director in India over decades, Chopra has made remarkable contributions to establish Bollywood cinema on the global stage.” (ibnlive.com)

Don’t we know it! The multi-talented Chopra founded India’s current largest film production company, Yash Raj Films, and has dabbled in all areas of filmmaking throughout his long and continually successful career. He directed his first movie in 1959, and from then gave us famous titles like Silsila, Deewar, Chandni, Lamhe (which will screen at the festival), Daar, and Dil to Pagal Hai. His last directed movie was Veer Zaara in 2004.

As producer, Yash’s recent hits include Chak De India!, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and New York. Forthcoming is the sports comedy entitled Dil Bole Hadippa!, which teams Rani (a Yash Raj staple) and Shahid Kapoor for the first time! According to wikipedia, the story is “about a young woman who pretends to be a man to join an all-male cricket team” coached by Captain Shahid.

It seems sports-themed movies are all the rage in India right now, so let’s hope that the inimitable Mr. Chopra delivers another hit when the colorful comedy releases later this month!