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{{refimprove|date=February 2022}}
{{short description|Indian film director (1914–2008)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. R. Chopra
| image = Baldev Raj Chopra 2013 stamp of India.jpg
| caption = Chopra on a 2013 stamp of India
| birth_name = Baldev Raj Chopra
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|4|22}}
| birth_place = [[Rahon]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2008|11|5|1914|4|22}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| occupation = {{hlist|Film producer|director}}
| children = 3, including [[Ravi Chopra|Ravi]]
| honours = {{Ubl | [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]] (1998) | [[Padma Bhushan]] (2001) }}
| yearsactive = 1944–2006
| spouse = Prakash Chopra
| relatives = See [[List of Hindi film clans#Chopra family|Chopra-Johar family]]
}}

'''Baldev Raj Chopra''' (22 April 1914 – 5 November 2008)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081108222048/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080071395 Filmmaker B R Chopra passes away]. Press Trust of India via NDTV. 5 November 2008</ref> was a famous Indian director and producer of [[Bollywood]] industry and television series . Best known for directing Hindi films like ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'' (1957), ''[[Sadhna (1958 film)|Sadhna]]'' (1958), ''[[Kanoon]]'' (1961), ''[[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]]'' (1963), ''[[Hamraaz|Humraaz]]'' (1967), ''[[Insaf Ka Tarazu]]'' (1980), ''[[Nikaah (film)|Nikaah]]'' (1982), ''[[Awam (film)|Awam]]'' (1987), and the producer of TV series, ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' in 1988.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200811060323.htm B.R.Chopra made socially relevant films] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 6 November 2008.</ref> He was awarded [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]], India's highest award in cinema, for the year 1998, and [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third highest civilian award, in 2001.

His younger brother [[Yash Chopra]], son [[Ravi Chopra]] and nephews [[Aditya Chopra]] and [[Karan Johar]] are also directors in the [[Bollywood]] industry. His nephew [[Uday Chopra]] is an actor and producer.

==Biography==
Chopra was born on 22 April 1914 in [[Rahon]], Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district (formerly Nawanshahr district) to Vilayati Raj Chopra, an employee of the PWD. He later shifted to [[Lahore]]. He was the second of several siblings; his youngest brother was filmmaker [[Yash Chopra]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taliculam |first1=Sharmila |title=And miles to go... |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04br.htm |website=Rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2018 |date=4 April 1997}}</ref>

Chopra received an M.A. in English literature from [[University of the Punjab]] in [[Lahore]]. He started his career in 1944 as a film journalist with ''Cine Herald'', a film-monthly published in [[Lahore]], he later took over the magazine and ran it until 1947.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Films_transformed_Chopras_destiny_and_vice-versa/articleshow/3678768.cms Films transformed Chopra's destiny and vice-versa] ''[[The Times of India]]'', 6 November 2008.</ref> In the same year, he launched a film with a story by [[I. S. Johar]], ''Chandni Chowk''. Naeem Hashmi was hero of this movie and Erika Rukhshi was the heroine. Just as the production of film was to start, riots broke out in [[Lahore]] and he and his family had to flee from the city. After the [[partition of India]] into [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] in 1947, he moved to [[Delhi]]. He later moved to [[Mumbai]], where his first production, ''Karwat'', began in 1948, though it turned out to be a flop. His first film as a director, ''[[Afsana (film)|Afsana]]'', was released in 1951 and featured [[Ashok Kumar]] in a double role – the film was a hit and established his name in [[Bollywood]]. Chopra made ''[[Chandni Chowk (film)|Chandni Chowk]]'', with [[Meena Kumari]] as a lead, in 1954. In 1955, Chopra formed his own production house, ''B.R Films''. His first movie for this production house was ''[[Ek Hi Raasta (1956 film)|Ek Hi Raasta]]'' which was highly successful. He followed it up with ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'' (1957) starring [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Vyjayantimala Bali]], the film became a golden jubilee hit. His subsequent releases like [[Kanoon]], [[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]], [[Humraaz]] were major hits in the sixties. In 1963, he was a member of the jury at the [[13th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="berlinale 1963">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1963/04_jury_1963/04_Jury_1963.html |title=Berlinale: Juries |access-date=13 February 2010 |work=berlinale.de| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100329093651/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1963/04_jury_1963/04_Jury_1963.html| archive-date= 29 March 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> His second film with actor Dilip Kumar was [[Dastaan (1972 film)|Dastaan]] which became a flop in 1972.

He directed successful film across genres after 1972, with films like suspense thriller [[Dhund (1973 film)|''Dhund'']], drama ''Karma'' (1977), comedy film ''[[Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978 film)|Pati Patni Aur Woh]]'', crime film in ''[[Insaf Ka Tarazu]]'', Muslim social in ''Nikaah'' and the political thriller [[Awam (film)|''Awam'']].

He was the producer for the films ''[[Dhool Ka Phool]]'', [[Waqt (1965 film)|''Waqt'']], ''[[Aadmi Aur Insaan]]'' and [[Ittefaq (1969 film)|''Ittefaq'']] directed by his younger brother Yash Chopra, and he also produced ''[[The Burning Train]]'', ''[[Aaj Ki Awaaz]]'', ''[[Mazdoor]]'', ''[[Baghban]]'', [[Baabul (2006 film)|''Baabul'']], ''[[Bhoothnath]]'' which were directed by [[Ravi Chopra]].

Chopra forayed into television with ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'', whose become the most successful TV serials with 92% viewers record in Indian television history, where [[Nitish Bharadwaj]] played the role of [[Krishna]] and [[Mukesh Khanna|Mukesh khanna]] portrayed the role of Bhism pitamah and this was co-directed by him with his son. He also produced TV Series on [[Bahadur Shah Zafar]], ''Kanoon'' (1993), ''[[Aap Beeti (TV series)|Aap Beeti]]'' , ''[[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|Vishnu Puran]]'' (2000) and ''Maa Shakti''. He produced films like ''[[Baghban (2003 film)|Baghbhan]]'', ''Babul'' and ''[[Bhoothnath|Bhootnath]]'', after 2000.

He died in [[Mumbai]] at the age of 94 on 5 November 2008,<ref>[http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/filmmaker-br-chopra-dead_100115182.html Filmmaker B.R. Chopra dead]. Thaindian.com (5 November 2008). Retrieved on 2018-11-09.</ref> survived by his son, [[Ravi Chopra]], and two daughters Shashi and Bina.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7710210.stm Bollywood producer BR Chopra dies]. ''[[BBC News]]'', 5 November 2008.</ref>

==Awards==
[[File:Baldev Raj Chopra and Yash Chopra.jpg|thumb|B. R. Chopra (sitting left) and Yash Chopra attending audio release of ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'']]
;Civilian awards
* [[Padma Bhushan]]: 2001<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>
;[[National Film Awards]]
* [[8th National Film Awards|1960]]: [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi|Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Hindi]] – ''[[Kanoon]]''<ref name="8thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx |title=8th National Film Awards |publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]] |access-date=7 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123052231/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=23 November 2016 }}</ref>
* [[9th National Film Awards|1961]]: [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi|President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi]] – ''[[Dharmputra]]'' (Producer)<ref name="9thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|title=9th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|access-date=30 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1998: [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 1999 |title=Rediff On The NeT: B R Chopra chosen for Dadasaheb Phalke Award |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/oct/21chopra.htm |access-date=13 April 2022 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
;[[Filmfare Awards]]
* [[9th Filmfare Awards|1962]]: [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]]: ''[[Kanoon]]''
* 2003: [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award]]

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Director
! scope="col" | Producer
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="row" | 1949
| ''Karwat''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Directorial debut
|-
! scope="row" | 1951
| ''[[Afsana (film)|Afsana]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1953
| ''Shole''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1954
| ''[[Chandni Chowk (film)|Chandni Chowk]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1956
| ''[[Ek Hi Raasta (1956 film)|Ek Hi Raasta]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| First film under B.R. Films
|-
! scope="row" | 1957
| ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1958
| '' [[Sadhna (1958 film)|Sadhna]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1959
| ''[[Dhool Ka Phool]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1960
| ''[[Kanoon]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Ubl | [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]] | [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]] }}
|-
! scope="row" | 1961
| ''[[Dharmputra]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1963
| ''[[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1965
| ''[[Waqt (1965 film)|Waqt]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1967
| ''[[Hamraaz]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1969
| ''[[Ittefaq (1969 film)|Ittefaq]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1970
| ''[[Aadmi Aur Insaan]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1972
| ''[[Dastaan (1972 film)|Dastaan]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1973
| ''[[Dhund (1973 film)|Dhund]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1975
| ''[[Zameer (1975 film)|Zameer]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Directorial debut of [[Ravi Chopra]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1976
| ''[[Chhoti Si Baat]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1977
| ''[[Karm]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1978
| ''[[Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978 film)|Pati Patni Aur Woh]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1980
| ''[[The Burning Train]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1980
| ''[[Insaf Ka Tarazu]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1981
| ''[[Agni Pareeksha (1981 film)|Agni Pareeksha]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| ''Beta''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| ''[[Nikaah (film)|Nikaah]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| ''Teri Meri Kahani''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Telefilm
|-
! scope="row" | 1983
| ''[[Mazdoor]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1983
| ''Dharti Aakash''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Telefilm
|-
! scope="row" | 1984
| ''[[Aaj Ki Awaaz]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1985
| ''Ghazal''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1985
| ''[[Tawaif (film)|Tawaif]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1986
| ''Kirayadar''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1986
| ''[[Dahleez (film)|Dahleez]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1987
| ''[[Awam (film)|Awam]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1988
| ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 1991
|[[Mahabharat Katha|''Mahabharat katha'']]
|
|
|TV Serial
|-
! scope="row" | 1991
| ''[[Pratigyabadh]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1992
| Kal Ki Awaz
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1992
| ''Sauda''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 1993
| ''[[Kanoon (TV series)|Kanoon]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2000
| ''[[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|Vishnu Puran]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2002–2004
| ''[[Ramayan (2002 TV series)|Ramayan]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2001–2004
| Aap Beeti
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2002–2003
| ''Ma Shakti''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2003
| ''[[Baghban (2003 film)|Baghban]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 2004
| ''[[Kamini Damini]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2006–2007
| ''[[Viraasat (2006 TV series)|Viraasat]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2006
| ''[[Baabul (2006 film)|Baabul]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 2008
| ''[[Bhoothnath]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Baldev Raj Chopra}}
{{Wikinews|Indian filmmaker Baldev Raj Chopra dies at age 94}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0159148|name=Baldev Raj Chopra}}
* [http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/nov/05sd1.htm B R Chopra's unforgettable movies] ''[[Rediff.com]]''

{{B. R. Chopra}}
{{Dadasaheb Phalke Award}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestDirector}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAward}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Baldev Raj}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Film directors from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Film producers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Film producers from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award winners]]
[[Category:Hindi film producers]]
[[Category:Hindi screenwriters]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:People from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:University of the Punjab alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

B. R. Chopra - Revision history

Bot at 05:42, 20 February 2023