B.r.chopra

B.r.chopra Biography

Baldev Raj Chopra, shortly known as B.R.Chopra is one of the most prominent film makers and serial producers of India. He is most known for the television serial, Mahabharat telecasted in Doordarshan during late 80’s and early 90’s. Among his movies, his valuable works include – Naya Daur (1957), Sadhna (1958), Kanoon (1961), Gumrah (1963) and Humraz (1967). He is the elder brother of Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra are his cousins. His son Ravi Chopra is also a film maker. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1998.

B.R.Chopra was born in Ludhiana on 22 April 1914. He has received Masters Degree in English literature before joining movies. He started his career in 1944 as a film journalist with the magazine, Cine Herald. Same year he produced and released his first movie - Chandni Chowk. Story was written by I.S.Johar. Naeem Hashmi and Erika Rukhshi were its leading actors.

After partition he moved to India. But his first production, Karwat (1949) was a flop. His first film as a director was Afsana, released in 1951. The movie starred Ashok Kumar in the leading role and he played double role in the movie. The movie was declared a hit and B.R.Chopra established as a director of the industry. In 1955, B.R. formed his own production house, B.R Films. The first movie under this production company was the classic – Naya Daur with Dileep Kumar and Vyjayanthimala in the lead. The movie was a huge hit and its songs were well noticed. This movie released in the year 1957 proved to be the milestone movie of Hindi cinema. Most recently its colour version also got released.

B.R.Chopra was instrumental in grooming the career of singer Mahendra Kapoor. He used Mahendra kapoor’s voice in the super hit movies Humraaz, Gumraah and Dhool ka phool. B.R.Chopra has won national awards twice - Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Kanoon in 1961 and President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi as a producer for the movie – Dharmaputra (1961). He has also won Filmfare Best Director Award for Kanoon. He has also produced and directed movies like Insaaf ki tarazu, Nikah, Dund, Daasthan, Sadhna, Pathi patni aur woh and Gumrah.    

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Updated: April 23, 2014