Yash Johar was an Indian Bollywoodfilm producer. He founded Dharma Productions in 1976 and made Hindi films that were noted for featuring lavish sets and exotic locations, but upheld Indian traditions and family values.
Personal life
Yash Johar was born on 6 September 1929 in Amritsar, Punjab, British India in a Punjabi Hindu family. Few are aware that he was the younger brother of I. S. Johar. Yash was married to Hiroo Johar. Yash and Hiroo are the parents of successful Indian film director Karan Johar. Yash Johar died on 26 June 2004 in Mumbai, aged 74, of a chest infection, though he had also been fighting cancer. After his death, his son Karan took over the reins of Dharma Productions.
Career
Johar began his career in Bollywood in 1962 in Sunil Dutt's production house Ajanta Arts. He was associated with films like Mujhe Jeene Do and Yeh Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke. He helped filmmaker Dev Anand handle the production of his film Guide_, which did roaring business at the box office. He continued with Dev Anand's Navketan Films and handled production of films like Jewel Thief, Prem Pujari and Hare Rama Hare Krishna. In 1976, Johar launched his own banner, Dharma Productions. The first film produced by the company, Dostana, directed by Raj Khosla, was a huge box office success. The company produced a handful of other films in the 1980s and early 1990s, most notably Agneepath, Gumrah and Duplicate. The company had unprecedented success with their 1998 award-winning film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the directorial debut of his son Karan Johar. The film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji was an all-time blockbuster and was one of the biggest hits of the year particularly in the overseas market. The film was critically acclaimed as well, winning major awards in all categories including the Best Film award at the 44th Annual Filmfare Awards, Lux Zee Cine Awards, Sansui Viewers' Choice Awards, Bollywood Movie Awards and the National Film Awards. Yash's son followed up its success with his second film, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which broke all box office records at the time to become the biggest hit in both India and particularly overseas where it entered the Top Five on the UK Charts. Johar was also involved in the production and distribution companyDreamz Unlimited founded in 1999 by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Aziz Mirza. He helped set up the company as well as handling the production process of their first film, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. The last film Johar was involved in the production of was Kal Ho Naa Ho, which was a critical and commercial success, becoming the second top-grossing movie domestically and the top-grossing Bollywood film in the overseas market that year. He was also a senior member of the Film Producers Guild of India.
