Yash Raj Films

What does Yash Raj Films own?
Yash Raj Films owns its film library of over 80 films, the Spy Universe franchise (seven films including Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, Tiger 3, War 2, and Alpha), YRF Music label, Raah Records (independent music label launched 2026), YRF Talent Agency, and a forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming app for micro-dramas. The company also holds investments in Rusk Media (vertical entertainment).

Is Yash Raj Films publicly traded?
No, Yash Raj Films is not publicly traded. The company is privately owned by the Chopra family. Aditya Chopra serves as chairman and controls the company. There are no public shareholders, no outside investors, and no stock exchange listing. The company has remained private since its founding in 1970.

Who founded Yash Raj Films?
Yash Raj Films was founded in 1970 by Yash Chopra, one of the most influential filmmakers in Indian cinema history. Chopra had previously worked as a director for his brother B.R. Chopra's production company before establishing his own studio. His films including "Deewaar," "Silsila," "Chandni," and "Veer-Zaara" defined the Bollywood romance genre.

Where is Yash Raj Films headquartered?
Yash Raj Films is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Mumbai is the center of the Hindi-language Bollywood film industry. The company has been based in Mumbai since its founding in 1970 and operates studios and production facilities in the city.

How many films has Yash Raj Films produced?
Yash Raj Films has produced over 80 films since its founding in 1970. The company's most successful films include "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (1995, the longest-running film in Indian cinema history), "Saiyaara" (2025, the highest-grossing romantic film in Indian cinema history), and the Spy Universe franchise (seven films with total India net collections of over 2,000 crore).

Who owns Yash Raj Films?
Yash Raj Films is wholly owned by the Chopra family. Aditya Chopra, son of founder Yash Chopra, serves as chairman and controls the company. Akshaye Widhani serves as CEO and is building out the studio model with external production partnerships and digital expansion. The company has no outside investors or public shareholders.

What is the Spy Universe?
The Spy Universe is YRF's film franchise, launched with "Ek Tha Tiger" in 2012. The franchise includes seven films: Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, Tiger 3, War 2, and Alpha. The franchise has a total budget of 1,358 crore and total India net collections of 2,033 crore, making it the highest-grossing film franchise in Indian cinema by total collections. However, recent entries (Tiger 3, War 2, Alpha) have been commercially disappointing.

Yash Raj Films was founded in 1970 by Yash Chopra, who had previously worked as a director for his brother B.R. Chopra's production company. Chopra's first film under the YRF banner was "Daag" (1973), a successful drama starring Rajesh Khanna. The company was initially a small production house, with Chopra directing films and managing the business himself.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, YRF produced a string of successful films including "Kabhie Kabhie" (1976), "Silsila" (1981), and "Chandni" (1989). These films established YRF's reputation for producing high-quality romantic dramas with strong music, a formula that became the studio's signature. Chopra's films were known for their lush cinematography, memorable soundtracks, and stories set against scenic locations.

The 1990s marked a turning point for YRF. Aditya Chopra, Yash Chopra's son, made his directorial debut with "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (DDLJ) in 1995. DDLJ became a cultural phenomenon, running in theaters for over 25 years and becoming the longest-running film in Indian cinema history. The film's success established Aditya Chopra as a major filmmaker and set the template for the modern Bollywood romance.

In 1997, YRF released "Dil To Pagal Hai," directed by Yash Chopra, which was another major success. The company followed with "Mohabbatein" (2000), directed by Aditya Chopra, and "Veer-Zaara" (2004), directed by Yash Chopra. These films solidified YRF's position as India's premier production house.

In the 2000s, YRF expanded into film distribution and launched Yash Raj Music, the company's music label. The company also began producing films by external directors, expanding its output beyond the Chopra family's directorial work. YRF produced "Hum Tum" (2004), "Bunty Aur Babli" (2005), "Fanaa" (2006), "Chak De! India" (2007), and "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" (2008), among others.

In 2012, YRF launched the Spy Universe with "Ek Tha Tiger," starring Salman Khan. The film was a major commercial success, grossing 198 crore in India. The franchise expanded with "Tiger Zinda Hai" (2017, 339 crore), "War" (2019, 319 crore), "Pathaan" (2023, 543 crore), "Tiger 3" (2023, 286 crore), "War 2" (2025, 288 crore), and "Alpha" (2026, 59 crore). The first four films were commercially successful, but Tiger 3, War 2, and Alpha have been commercially disappointing, reducing the franchise's overall return on investment.

Yash Chopra passed away in October 2012, shortly before the release of his final film "Jab Tak Hai Jaan." Aditya Chopra assumed full control of the company and has led it since.

In 2025, YRF released "Saiyaara," directed by Mohit Suri, which became the highest-grossing romantic film in Indian cinema history and the studio's most profitable film. The film was produced by CEO Akshaye Widhani, marking his first production credit.

In 2026, YRF underwent significant strategic expansion. In April, the company announced a INR 150 crore investment in micro-dramas and a proprietary direct-to-consumer streaming app, led by Widhani and content head Saugata Mukherjee, formerly of SonyLIV. In June, YRF invested in Rusk Media, a vertical entertainment company, to expand into mobile-first content. In July, the company announced "Mupapa," its first theatrical collaboration with Posham Pa Pictures, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, set for release in February 2027. In August, YRF launched Raah Records, a new music label and incubator for independent artists.

YRF also partnered with Netflix in 2026 to bring its film library to global audiences, including DDLJ, Mohabbatein, Sultan, and the Tiger franchise. The partnership reflects the company's strategy of expanding the global reach of Indian cinema.

YRF has faced several notable controversies:

Spy Universe commercial decline: The recent underperformance of Tiger 3 (2023, 286 crore on a 300 crore budget), War 2 (2025, 288 crore on a 325 crore budget), and Alpha (2026, 59 crore on a 100 crore budget) has drawn criticism from industry analysts and fans. The franchise's return on investment has dropped to 49.70%, with three consecutive films failing to recover their budgets. This decline has raised questions about whether the Spy Universe franchise is sustainable and whether YRF should reconsider its strategy of prioritizing franchise films over standalone projects.

Aditya Chopra's reclusiveness: Aditya Chopra's refusal to engage with media or make public appearances has been a subject of industry commentary. While this is not a controversy in the regulatory sense, it has created challenges for the company's public relations and has led to criticism that YRF is not transparent about its business operations or strategic decisions.

Nepotism debates: YRF, like many Bollywood production houses, has faced criticism regarding nepotism and the promotion of industry insiders over outsiders. The company's casting decisions, particularly in the Spy Universe franchise, have been debated in Indian media and on social media platforms.

UK production investment: In 2026, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced three major YRF productions in the UK, a move that drew both praise for bringing investment to the UK film industry and criticism from Indian commentators who questioned whether Indian productions should be filmed abroad rather than in India.