Mumbai, September 5 (Daily Kiran) : Yash Johar, the founder of Dharma Productions and father of filmmaker Karan Johar, is celebrated for elevating Bollywood to international prominence. Born on September 6, 1929, in Punjab, now part of Pakistan, his life story resembles a cinematic narrative. After the partition, his family relocated to Delhi, where his father opened a sweet shop. Among his nine siblings, Yash was the most educated, which led his father to assign him bookkeeping tasks at the shop, a role he did not enjoy.
With his mother’s encouragement, Yash moved to Mumbai, where he faced numerous challenges. He began his career as an assistant photographer for a prominent English newspaper. Notably, actress Madhubala was known for being difficult to photograph, but Yash impressed her with his English skills, leading her to agree to a photo session.
In the early 1950s, he joined Shashidhar Mukherjee’s Filmistan Studios as a publicist and still photographer. His first major production role came in 1960 with “Love in Shimla.” By 1962, he was working with Sunil Dutt’s Ajanta Arts, producing films like “Mujhe Jeene Do” and “Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke.”
His collaboration with Dev Anand’s Navketan Films was significant, contributing to hits such as “Guide” (1965), “Jewel Thief” (1967), and “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” (1971). In 1971, he even scouted locations in India for a film featuring martial arts star Bruce Lee, although the project never materialized.
In 1976, he established Dharma Productions, known for its emotional and family-oriented films with high production quality. His debut film under the banner, “Dostana,” released in 1980, starred Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, and Zeenat Aman, becoming a box office hit.
Subsequent films like “Waqt” (1984), “Agneepath” (1990), “Gumrah” (1993), and “Duplicate” (1998) further solidified Dharma’s reputation. While “Agneepath” did not initially perform well, Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of Vijay Dinanath Chavan has since become iconic in Indian cinema. Johar also worked as an associate producer on the Hollywood film “The Jungle Book” (1994), extending his influence beyond Bollywood.
By the late 1990s, his son Karan Johar stepped into directing, and Yash fully supported his vision. “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” released in 1998, revolutionized Indian cinema, setting new records globally. Following this success, films like “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (2001) and “Kal Ho Naa Ho” (2003) introduced a lavish new identity for Bollywood among NRI audiences, characterized by grand sets, family themes, beautiful locations, and memorable music.
Yash Johar was known throughout the film industry as a gentleman, kind-hearted, and disciplined. He served not only as a producer but also as a guardian to artists and crew members. He passed away from cancer on June 26, 2004, in Mumbai. After his death, Karan and his wife, Hiroo Johar, took the reins of Dharma Productions. Today, Dharma Productions stands as one of the largest and most successful production houses in Indian cinema. Although Yash Johar is no longer with us, his passion for cinema and the values he instilled continue to resonate in every major Bollywood film.
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