Vidhu Vinod Chopra Turns 72: Most Iconic Films of the National Award-Winning Director

Vidhu Vinod Chopra who is celebrating his 72nd birthday today, is not just a successful director, but he’s among the top producers and screenwriters of Bollywood. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Chopra has gifted Bollywood some of its most memorable films, including 1942: A Love Story, Munna Bhai MBBS, 3 Idiots, and 12th Fail, among others. Throughout his career, he has earned 4 National Film Awards and 10 Filmfare awards. He also received an Academy Award nomination for his short documentary in 1979, An Encounter With Faces.

Packed with emotions, adventure, and humour, the filmmaker’s movies have a distinct quality where there is something for everyone. He is a master storyteller who excels in weaving intricate narratives that often tackle complex and socially relevant themes. As Vidhu Vinod Chopra celebrates his 72nd birthday, it’s a great time to revisit his iconic films.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Most Iconic Films

1. 1942: A Love StoryThe timeless romance, based during India’s freedom struggle, left audiences delighted with its soundtrack and intriguing plot. The movie featured Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala in the lead and turned out to be a major box-office success.
2. ParindaStarring Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff, the movie explores the life of orphaned brothers. It became Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s first big Bollywood success, which earned him a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award.
3. Mission KashmirThe action thriller follows a police officer who unintentionally kills a family and later adopts the only survivor. As the boy grows up and learns the truth, he decides to take revenge. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s collaboration with Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta worked like magic, as the film received multiple Filmfare nominations.
4. Munna Bhai MBBSThe movie is about a local gangster, played by Sanjay Dutt, who decides to become a doctor to fulfill his father’s dream. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the blend of humour and inspiring story made it a massive hit and remains one of the most beloved movies in Chopra’s career.
5. 3 IdiotsFeaturing Aamir Khan, R Madhavan and Sharman Joshi as engineering students, it highlights the pressures of the Indian higher education system and the importance of following one’s dreams. The film’s social message mixed with memorable songs and characters resonated with audiences making it both a commercial and critical hit.
6. PKVidhu Vinod Chopra produced this blockbuster, which marked his other collaboration with director Rajkumar Hirani and actor Aamir Khan. The movie features an alien stranded on Earth, who tackles complex issues about religion and society.
7. 12th FailVidhu Vinod Chopra’s latest directorial project stars Vikrant Massey, which is based on the life of IPS Manoj Sharma. Despite failing his 12th-grade exams, Sharma was determined to clear the UPSC exams. The film received universal praise from the theatres as well as OTT.