Vidhu Vinod Chopra Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Vidhu Vinod Chopra is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor. He is the recipient of five National Film Awards i.e. in 1976, 2003, 2006 (two), and 2009.

Wiki/Biography

Vidhu Vinod Chopra was born on Friday, 5 September 1952 (age 71 years; as of 2023) in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. His zodiac sign is Virgo.

He did his schooling at DAV Institute Magarmal Bagh Srinagar, Kashmir, India. He pursued a BA from Sir Parashurambhau College, Pune. Later, he did a course in film direction at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 9″

Weight (approx.): 75 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Dark Brown

Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 40″, Waist 32″, Biceps 12″

Family

He belongs to a Punjabi-Kashmiri Hindu family, who hailed from Peshawar, British India (now Pakistan).

Parents & Siblings

His father, Lala Dinanath Chopra (DN Chopra), was a manager at an insurance company in Srinagar, Kashmir, and he used to write poetry. His mother’s name is Shanti Devi Mahalakshmi. His elder brother, Veer Chopra, owned a motorcycle company. His younger sister, Shailija Dhar, is a film director, and she made a small appearance (lady at Mona Singh’s wedding) in the Hindi film ‘3 Idiots.’

Wife & Children

Renu Saluja

While he was studying at FTII, he met the Indian film editor Renu Saluja, who was pursuing an editing course at FTII. Soon, they became friends and then fell in love with each other. At the age of 19, Vidhu got married to Renu. However, in 1983, the couple got divorced as Renu did not want to have a child. In 2002, Renu passed away from cancer.

Shabnam Sukhdev

In 1985, he got married to the Indian filmmaker Shabnam Sukhdev. The couple was then blessed with a daughter named Ishaa Vinod Chopra, who is working as a dancer, filmmaker, and author. His marriage did not last long, and in 1989, the couple got divorced.

Anupama Chopra

In 1989, the Indian journalist and film critic Anupama Chopra approached Vinod for an interview, but he arrogantly denied it. Later, she met him through her mother. Gradually, they became friends, and later, fell in love with each other. On 1 June 1990, the couple got married. They have a daughter named Zuni Chopra (writer), and a son named Agni Dev Chopra (cricketer).

Other Relative(s)

The renowned Indian director and producer Ramanand Sagar is his half-brother (from his father’s side). After Ramanand’s mother’s demise, his father got married to Vidhu’s mother.

His father-in-law, Navin Chandra, is an ex-executive of Union Carbide. His mother-in-law, Kamna Chandra, is a scriptwriter. His brother-in-law, Vikram Chandra, is an American-Indian writer. His sister-in-law, Tanuja Chandra, is a director and a writer.

Career

Writer/Director/Producer

In 1976, he directed the Hindi-English short film ‘Murder at Monkey Hill.’ In 1978, he directed the Hindi documentary film ‘An Encounter with Faces.’ In 1981, he made his debut as a director-writer-producer in Hindi films with the film ‘Sazaaye Maut.’

Some of the Hindi films directed by him are ‘Parinda’ (1989), ‘1942: A Love Story’ (1994), ‘Mission Kashmir’ (2000), ‘Shikara’ (2020), and ’12th Fail’ (2023).

As a writer, he has worked in various Hindi films such as ‘Parinda’ (1989), ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ (2003), ‘Parineeta’ (2005), ‘3 Idiots’ (2009), ‘Shikara’ (2020), and ’12th Fail’ (2023). Vidhu has produced a few Hindi films like ‘1942: A Love Story’ (1994), ‘Mission Kashmir’ (2000), ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ (2003), ‘3 Idiots’ (2009), ‘Sanju’ (2018), and ’12th Fail’ (2023).

Other Work

In the 2005 Hindi film ‘Parineeta,’ he was a supervising editor. As an associate writer and lyricist, he worked in the Hindi film ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ (2006). In 2009, he worked as a screenplay associate in the Hindi film ‘3 Idiots.’ He worked as a writer-director-producer in the English film ‘Broken Horses’ in 2015. He was an editor in the 2016 Hindi film ‘Wazir.’ In 2020, he co-wrote the Hindi film ‘Shikara’ along with Rahul Pandita and Abhijat Joshi. In 2021, he worked as a co-writer for the book ‘Unscripted: Conversation on Life And Cinema.’ He has produced a few advertisements for brands like Lehar Pepsi. He has started a merchandise clothing store Creative Ideas.

Controversies

Allegations of Copyright Infringement

In 2009, soon after the release of the Hindi film ‘3 Idiots,’ the Indian author Chetan Bhagat accused Vidhu of copyright infringement. Later, Vidhu called a press conference in which he misbehaved with a journalist for asking questions related to infringement.

Later, he apologised to the journalist. In 2020, Chetan Bhagat posted a tweet hinting towards Vidhu Vinod Chopra of bullying and harassing Chetan.

Misbehaved with a Journalist

In October 2016, he misbehaved with a journalist during a film festival in Mumbai. He said,

Don’t tell me what to speak about, why the F**K should I speak.”

Awards

National Film Awards

• 1976: National Film Award for Best Short Experimental Film

• 2003: Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for the film Munna Bhai MBBS

• 2006: Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai

• 2006: Best Screenplay for the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai

• 2009: Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for the film 3 Idiots

  Vidhu Vinod Chopra receiving the National Award

Filmfare Awards

• 1990: Best Film for the film Parinda

  Vidhu Vinod Chopra after receiving the 35th Filmfare Award

• 2004: Best Film for the film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

• 2004: Best Screenplay for the film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

• 2007: Best Dialogue for the film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

• 2007: Best Story for the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai

• 2007: Best film (Critics) for the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai

• 2010: Best Screenplay for the film 3 Idiots

• 2010: Best Film for the film 3 Idiots

• 2024: Best Editing for the film 12th Fail

• 2024: Best Screenplay for the film 12th Fail

• 2024: Best Director for the film 12th Fail

Awards of the International Indian Film Academy

• 2004: Best Screenplay for the film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

• 2006: Best Story for the film Parineeta

• 2010: Best Screenplay for the film 3 Idiots

• 2010: Best Story for the film 3 Idiots

• 2010: Best Film for 3 Idiots

ETC Bollywood Business Awards

• 2015: The 300 Crore Club for the film PK

• 2019: The 300 Crore Club for the film Sanju

• 2019: Highest Grosser of the Year for the film Sanju

Screen Awards

• 2007: Best Story for the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai

• 2010: Best Screenplay for the film 3 Idiots

• 2010: Best Film for 3 Idiots

Bengal Film Journalists’ Award

• 2004: Best Film for Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.

• 2007: Best Film for Lage Raho Munna Bhai

FOI Online Awards

• 2023: Best Film Editing for the film 12th Fail

• 2023: Best Screenplay (adapted) for the film 12th Fail

Other Awards

• 1976: Oscars Nominations for the Hindi-English short film Murder on Monkey Hill

• 1980: Won Grand Prix at Tampere Film Festival for the documentary An Encounter with Faces

• 1995: Won Best Film at Shanghai International Film Festival for the film 1942: A Love Story

• 2006: Best Story for the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai

• 2007: Won Best Film by Bollywood Awards for the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai

• 2010: Won Best Film by Annual Central European Bollywood Awards for the film 3 Idiots

• 2010: Won Best Film by Stardust Awards for the film 3 Idiots

• 2015: Won Best Film by Apsara Film Producers Guild Awards for the film PK

• 2015: Won Best Film by IBN Live Movie Awards for the film PK

• 2019: Won Best Film by Zee Cine Awards for the film Sanju

Favourites

• Filmmaker(s): Steven Spielberg, James Cameron

• Film(s): Ajantrik (1958), Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960)

• Film Genre: Thriller, Comedy

Facts/Trivia

• He also goes by the name VVC.

• In childhood, his family’s financial condition was not good. In an interview, he shared that once he was diagnosed with jaundice, he did not even have Rs 5 to pay doctor’s fees.

• As he was a bright student in school, his father wanted him to become a doctor. He shared that he was a national scholar. Apart from studying, he was good at playing cricket.

• In the initial years of his schooling, he studied only Hindi and Urdu. At the age of 16, he started learning the English alphabet.

• His elder brother had paid Vidhu’s FTII fees of Rs 250 and supported him financially, while he was studying there.

• When he was a fresher in FTII, Pune, he was so afraid of ragging that he used to carry a knife with him to the college campus. He once revealed that he would have even killed his seniors with a knife if they had ragged him.

  Vidhu Vinod Chopra in his younger days

• In an interview, he shared that he wanted to study at the University of California, Los Angeles in his teens. However, due to a lack of finances, he could not pursue his dream.

• In his teens, he wanted to become an actor. He even made a small appearance in the Hindi film ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’ (1983).

• He follows a non-vegetarian diet.

• He is often spotted consuming alcohol at parties and events.

• In an interview, he shared that it was his mother’s last wish that Vidhu direct a film on the struggles of Kashmiri Pandits. To fulfil his mother’s dream, he directed the Hindi film ‘Shikara.’

• In his leisure time, he enjoys travelling to different places.

  Vidhu Vinod Chopra during his trip

• He is an avid animal lover and has a few pet dogs.

  Vidhu Vinod Chopra with a dog

• He once shared that he did not use Instagram or Facebook.

• Vidhu shares a good bond with the Indian politician LK Advani. He shared that when he received the National Award for the first time, he met Advani. He said,
  

  The first Rs 5000 I earned in my life was given to me by Mr LK Advani for the National Award. When I went on stage and they gave me the National Award and it was encashable after 8 years as it was a postal certificate. Then I made a lot of noise which I don’t want to go into but he was the I&B minister and he called me the next day to his office and gave me breakfast. Then he sent me to Gol Dak Khana in Delhi and I actually got my first Rs 5000 from him and that I will never ever forget.”

• When he was nominated for an Oscar, he did not have money to book a flight ticket to the US. LK Advani then gave him an Air India ticket and $20 a day till his stay in the US.

  Vidhu Vinod Chopra with LK Advani

• In 1998, he directed the Hindi film ‘Kareeb,’ which he dedicated to his wife Anupama.

• On his YouTube channel of his production house, his team uploads his work-related videos.

  Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films YouTube channel 

• Vidhu once gifted a Rolls Royce to Amitabh Bachchan worth Rs 4.5 crore. At that time, Vidhu used to own only a Maruti van.