As 1942: A Love Story celebrates its 30th anniversary, acclaimed filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the iconic film and the talented actors who brought it to life. In an exclusive interview, Chopra shares his thoughts on working with Anil Kapoor, Jacky Shroff, Manisha Koirala, and the unforgettable journey of creating one of Bollywood’s most beloved classics.
“30 years, Oh my god! Thank you so much for reminding me it’s 30 years because I cannot believe it’s been 30 years, it seems like yesterday,” Chopra exclaimed. “But yes, it was great fun to direct all those people Manisha, Jackky, Anil, oh my god so many of them – it was the first time ever we built that set. Nobody had ever made such a big set till ‘1942: A Love Story’ happened and of course after that Sanjay Bhansali who assisted me there has been making big sets. But that was the first one. We had never seen such a big set till then. I’ve always enjoyed whichever film I have done, and I thoroughly enjoy 1942.”
Reflecting on the inception of his illustrious career, Chopra shared, “That’s a very long story and I will have to go back. I think you should read my book Unscripted. But it all started in Kashmir where I was born and brought up. I was a young kid who dreamt of making movies and my father was very upset with me because there was no way he thought I could come to Bombay. He wanted me to become a doctor because I was very good in my studies and of course he had no money to send me to Bombay or to the Film Institute. So, yeah it was a crazy dream. Completely crazy! And then I fooled my father, I failed pre-medical so he couldn’t get me into a medical school. And then I topped the University. I was first class pass in Economics Honors and I became the National Scholar of India. I got 250 bucks’ scholarship from the government of India and with that money I went to the film school. It’s a long journey simplified for you. It’s been great fun to be where I am from, and where I have come,” he said.
With 1942: A Love Story, Vidhu Vinod Chopra not only left an indelible mark on Indian cinema but also inspired countless aspiring filmmakers with his remarkable journey from Kashmir to Bollywood. As the film continues to enchant audiences even three decades later, Chopra’s legacy as a visionary storyteller and a master craftsman remains unparalleled in the annals of Indian cinema.