12th fail director Vidhu Vinod Chopra reveals his father's reaction when he told him he wants to be a director

Producer and director Vidhu Vinod Chopra recently recalled his father’s reaction when he told him that he wants to become a filmmaker.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra is the man behind acclaimed films such as Khamosh, Parinda, 1942: A Love Story and Mission Kashmir. His recent directorial films consists of biographical drama 12th Fail (2023), Munna Bhai film series, 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014), and Sanju (2018).

On his recent visit to the 14th Indian Film Festival that was held on 12 and 13th October. Vidhu Vinod Chopra revealed that his father slapped him when he said he wanted to make films. His father cautioned him that pursuing a career in Mumbai would not lead to financial stability. Chopra shared that he had to work his way to FTII, where he learnt the craft.

"When I told my father in Kashmir, 'Paaji, I want to make a film,' he slapped me and said, 'Bhooka mar jaayega Bombay mein. Kaise rahega?' (You will die of starvation, how will you survive?). He couldn’t afford to send me anywhere so I thought about it, I struggled, I topped Kashmir University in Economics Honours, I am First Class First, so I could get Rs 250 as national scholarship from Government of India, which I got," Vidhu Vinod Chopra said.