Yash Johar: The journey of Dharma Productions founder

Yash Johar, the founder of Dharma Productions and father of Karan Johar, is recognized as a filmmaker who helped bring Bollywood to international prominence. Born on September 6, 1929, in Punjab (now in Pakistan), his family relocated to Delhi following the partition of India, where his father operated a sweet shop.

Johar began his career in Mumbai, initially working as an assistant photographer for an English newspaper and later as a publicist and still photographer for Filmistan Studios in the 1950s. He held production roles for various significant projects, including work with Sunil Dutt’s Ajanta Arts and Dev Anand’s Navketan Films, contributing to successful movies such as ‘Guide’ (1965) and ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ (1971).

In 1976, he established Dharma Productions, a studio that became well-known for its emotional and family-oriented films.