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Vidhu Vinod Chopra Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth5 September 1952

Age72 Years

BirthplaceSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

ProfessionFilm Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Editor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAnupama Chopra

FamilySon - Agni Dev Chopra; Daughters - Ishaa Vinod Chopra, Zuni Chopra

Vidhu Vinod Chopra Biography

Veteran Indian filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra is known for his work as a director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Born in Srinagar in 1952, he trained at

Early life and background

Vidhu Vinod Chopra was born on 5 September 1952 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Raised in a family with roots in what is now Peshawar, he grew up in Srinagar and attended DAV Institute Magarmal Bagh. He completed a BA at Sir Parashurambhau College in Pune and then studied filmmaking at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. Chopra has described a childhood marked by financial constraint and a strong academic record. Sport—especially cricket—figured in his youth, and he has spoken about learning English relatively late in his teens.

Career

Chopra’s career spans many roles in Indian cinema: director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Early in his filmmaking life he made short and documentary work, including the Hindi-English short Murder at Monkey Hill (1976) and the documentary An Encounter with Faces (1978). His first feature as a director-writer-producer was Sazaye Maut (1981).

Across several decades he has directed and written a number of notable Hindi films. Among his directorial credits are Parinda (1989), 1942: A Love Story (1994), Mission Kashmir (2000), Shikara (2020), and 12th Fail (2023). He has also been credited as writer on many projects, including Parinda, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003), Parineeta (2005), 3 Idiots (2009), Shikara and 12th Fail. In 2015 he wrote, directed and produced the English-language film Broken Horses.

As a producer Chopra has overseen a range of commercially prominent films, including 1942: A Love Story, Mission Kashmir, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., 3 Idiots, Sanju (2018) and 12th Fail. He has worked in editorial capacities as well—serving as supervising editor on Parineeta (2005)—and has contributed lyrics and associate writing duties on projects such as Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006).

Chopra’s work has been recognized repeatedly at national and industry award ceremonies. His films have received National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, and honors from other Indian and international bodies. Recognition spans from early acclaim for short films to awards for mainstream features and screenplays; recent years include awards for 12th Fail.

Public profile

Chopra has been a visible figure both inside and outside the film community. He co-wrote a book, Unscripted: Conversation on Life And Cinema, in 2021 and has produced commercials for brands. He runs a merchandise clothing store called Creative Ideas and his production house posts work videos to YouTube.

Personal life and family

Chopra is married to film critic Anupama Chopra. He has three children: a son, Agni Dev Chopra, and two daughters, Ishaa Vinod Chopra and Zuni Chopra; Ishaa is from an earlier relationship and Zuni is with Anupama Chopra. His parents are Lala Dinanath Chopra (also known as DN Chopra) and Shanti Devi Mahalakshmi. He has described a close family network and has relatives who have worked in film and media.

Themes and motivations

Storytelling with social and personal resonance has been a recurring thread in Chopra’s work. He has said that his mother’s wish influenced his decision to make Shikara, a film addressing the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits, which he co-wrote and directed as a personal tribute.

Latest updates

Most recently, Chopra continued to be active as a filmmaker with 12th Fail (2023) and remains involved in production and writing for film projects. His production house maintains a presence online through uploaded videos and merchandise.

Other notes

Chopra has spoken about friendships and professional relationships developed over his career. He has also been open about personal habits and interests outside of filmmaking—travel, animals and occasional social drinking have been mentioned in profiles of his life.
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Recent Work

12th Fail

Director, co-writer and producer of the 2023 Hindi film

2023
Shikara

Director and co-writer of the 2020 Hindi film made as a tribute to his mother's wish to tell the story of Kashmiri Pandits

2020
Broken Horses

Writer-director-producer of the 2015 English-language film

2015
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Career Highlights

  1. Made acclaimed short and documentary films early in his career, including Murder at Monkey Hill (1976) and An Encounter with Faces (1978).
  2. Directed notable Hindi features such as Parinda, 1942: A Love Story, Mission Kashmir, Shikara and 12th Fail.
  3. Produced commercially successful films including Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., 3 Idiots and Sanju.
  4. Worked across writing, directing, producing and editing roles throughout his career.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Vidhu Vinod Chopra born?

5 September 1952

What is Vidhu Vinod Chopra known for?

Film Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Editor

What is Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s marital status?

Married

Who is Vidhu Vinod Chopra married to?

Anupama Chopra