Yash Raj Films (YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company founded by filmmaker Yash Chopra in 1970. Since 2012, it has been led by his son Aditya Chopra. The company primarily produces and distributes Hindi films and has played a significant role in shaping the Hindi film industry.[1]
YRF since launching their distribution arm, has not just distributed films produced by them but also several films made by other production companies, within India as well as overseas, which includes a variety of independent films and Parallel Cinema productions such as Godmother (1999), Zubeidaa (2001), Maqbool (2004), and Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004) among others.
In recent years, YRF has distributed successful films like Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023), Laapataa Ladies (2024), and Chhaava (2025). While they mostly distribute Hindi films, they have also distributed a few regional films in various languages.[citation needed]
In 2013, the company's distribution team sold the satellite rights of its venture Dhoom 3 for ₹75 crore (US$7.9million)[3] to Sony Entertainment Television.[4]
YRF Home Entertainment
YRF Home Entertainment division produces and releases Audio CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs & VCDs. While these include films from YRF's own film catalogue, the division also selectively acquires films from outside banners for releasing them across Home Video formats. YRF Home Entertainment Forever Classics Collection includes many of their own classic films, directed by the company's founder, Yash Chopra and his son Aditya Chopra, besides several popular films from Raj Kapoor Films and B.R. Films, among others.[citation needed]
In 2007, The Walt Disney Company entered Indian entertainment through a three-film co-production agreement with YRF, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, and Roadside Romeo. Disney's move was seen as a bid to increase its global recognition and finally enter the increasingly lucrative Indian cinema arena. In 2009, Disney offered a 49% acquisition of YRF for ₹2,500 crore (US$260million)[6] (unadjusted for inflation), which took the valuation of the Indian entertainment company to ₹5,000 crore (equivalent to ₹130billionorUS$1.3billion in 2023).[7] The acquisition proposal did not materialise, as Yash Raj Films chose not to proceed with Disney’s offer and continued to operate independently till date.
Aditya Chopra then took over as the vice-chairman of Yash Raj Films in 2010, soon after the release of the film Badmaash Company under the same banner.[8]
In 2011, the company went into production of three individual films with Aamir Khan for Dhoom 3, Shah Rukh Khan for Jab Tak Hai Jaan and with Salman Khan for Ek Tha Tiger, the first installment in the YRF Spy Universe. The three films would become the most expensive productions ever undertaken by YRF; Ek Tha Tiger[9] was produced at ₹75 crore (US$7.9million),[10]Jab Tak Hai Jaan was produced at ₹60 crore (US$6.3million)[11] and Dhoom 3 was produced at ₹150 crore (US$16million).[12]
All three of these films broke box office records in India and went on to become some of the highest-grossing films of their time. Ek Tha Tiger,[9] which released on the 66th Independence Day of India, earned approximately ₹320 crore (US$34million)[19] and became the eleventh highest-grossing film of Indian cinema. Jab Tak Hai Jaan opened worldwide on the Diwali day of 2012 and went on to earn ₹241 crore (US$25million)[16] and became the fifteenth highest-grossing film in India. Dhoom 3 released in (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Arabic) on the Christmas week of 2013 and grossed approximately ₹542 crore (US$57million),[20][21] in the worldwide market and went on to become the twelfth highest-grossing film of Indian cinema, as of January2022[update].[citation needed]
Aditya Chopra as Chairman
After the death of Yash Chopra in October 2012, Aditya Chopra was elevated to the position of chairman and Chief Executive of the company's studio wing. Facing overwhelming pressure by the Indian bourses to be publicly listed around the same period, the company went for a soft-launch on 3 January 2013.[citation needed]
YRF Television was a TV production company, based in Mumbai, India,[28] and promoted by Aditya Chopra.
YRF Television, although it produced a small number of programmes, all of which were content-oriented productions. It was mainly focused on creating and producing unique, distinctive shows for television audiences, rather than most of the shows that were developed during that time, aiming to provide television viewers with compelling content through fresh, contemporary, and engaging storylines.[citation needed]
YRF Television's shows include Lift Kara De, Seven - The Ashvamedha Prophecy, Mahi Way, Rishta.com, Powder, Khotey Sikkey, Kismat.
[29] It was owned by Yash Raj Films (YRF) and entered into an exclusive agreement with Sony Entertainment Television to produce exclusive fiction and non-fiction content for the channel.[30]
Satellite and home entertainment rights to all films produced under the Raj Kapoor Films banner through the company's home entertainment division, YRF Home Entertainment
Multi film co-production agreement for releasing films such as Dhoom 3, Thugs of Hindostan, War, Shamshera, Pathaan, Tiger 3, and War 2 in the IMAX format.
3-film (Titli, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar) co-production agreement for feature films to be directed by Dibakar Banerjee and his assistant Kanu Behl.
