When thinking of Bollywood you might firstly think of upbeat music, extravagant dance scenes, or one of the many stars that grace the screen. But in “The Romantics,” directed by Smriti Mundhra, the focus is on Yash Raj Films and the people behind some of Bollywood’s defining films.
“The Romantics” is a short docu-series- only 4 episodes long- featuring interviews from a multitude of stars from Shah Rukh Khan to Karan Johar, Rani Mukherjee, Amitabh Bachchan… the list goes on. In a mostly chronological order Mundhra dives into the history of YRF by firstly focusing on Yash Chopra, the studio’s founder and namesake, and his beginnings as a filmmaker. From there the story proceeds to chronicle the rise of YRF with the focus eventually shifting to Yash Chopra’s son Aditya Chopra and YRF under his leadership. Throughout the series we get behind the scenes insights into many of YRF’s hit films, and some misses, and how each film helped shape Yash Raj Films into what it is today.
At under 4 hours in total running time, the series manages to cover a lot despite its length. The sheer number of people interviewed, and the range, is notable. Not only some of the Hindi film industry’s most famous actors and actresses are interviewed but directors, journalists, members of the Chopra family, and more share their stories. Even the notoriously reclusive Aditya Chopra was interviewed, underlining the dedication and legitimacy of Mundhra and her team. These interviews, carefully edited, are the main driving force of the series. But “The Romantics” is not just a dry retelling of YRF’s past. Personal stories from the interviewees give the series a beating heart. Some favorites: the real life inspiration that lead to the making of “Chak De! India” and Bhumi Pednekar’s journey from casting assistant to feature film leading lady. These intimate anecdotes were so engrossing that it’s such a shame to think of all the other stories that ended up on the cutting room floor for the sake of a tighter run time.
While the length of the series makes it easily digestible it comes at the cost of being unable to explore certain storylines more deeply. One such missed opportunity was the perspective of NRIs (Non-Resident Indians). With Lilly Singh being the exception, though the NRI viewpoint is mentioned it’s done so briefly but if elaborated on further could have added greater nuance on the contribution of YRF films to Indian culture and identity both nationally and abroad. This is especially relevant considering the extent of the Indian diaspora and the role of Indians’ relations with Western cultures. It’s also worth noting that many of YRF’s films were shot abroad (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Hum Tum, Bachna Ae Haseeno, and many more) to the point that the Swiss mountains were almost a signature in YRF films. Yash Chopra himself was named an honorary ambassador of Interlaken, Switzerland for his impact on tourism and even has a lake nicknamed after him in the area! Given the international release of the series had that aspect been further developed it would have helped many unfamiliar with Bollywood and YRF find points to relate to.
Despite these missed opportunities Mundhra’s thoughtful direction expertly guides the series on dissecting both the successes and blunders of YRF which gives “The Romantics” depth beyond just a banal glorification of film history. The honest conversations, especially that around the tricky subject of nepotism, are expertly done. By directly addressing the elephant in the room, spotlighting both stars from film families and “self-made” stars, the series offers a balanced dialogue on the subject. This is especially evident in the candid discussion on Yash Chopra’s second son Uday Chopra’s career. Aditya Chopra himself, Uday’s brother, specifically points out how his sibling’s lackluster career as an actor is an example of how even having a director/producer as a father does not guarantee success in the industry- ultimately, he states, it’s up to the audience to decide who the stars are. Despite the flounders in his acting career Uday Chopra is still present in the YRF business, which has its eyes set on the future.
In addition to recounting YRF’s origins and catalogue “The Romantics” also peels back the curtain on the business side of YRF. Aditya Chopra discusses his vision to create the next generation of producers and directors embedded with YRF’s values. We as the audience get to see parts of that vision come to life, but since Aditya Chopra’s work is still ongoing are also left with a sense of excitement to see the continued development of YRF. Though “The Romantics” mainly focuses on the past ultimately Mundhra’s conclusion is that there is still a lot to look forward to in YRF’s future as they continue to grow while still honoring the legacy of Yash Chopra.
Overall “The Romantics” is a definite must-watch for Bollywood film fans. But knowledge of the Hindi film industry is not a requirement as the accessibility of the series allows for film lovers from all around the world to learn more about Yash Raj Films and its principle players Yash and Aditya Chopra, whose visions and films helped shaped Bollywood into what it is today. In addition to insights into some of Bollywood’s greatest films viewers are also treated to a greater understanding of Indian history and the inner workings of the film industry, making this a series that can be enjoyed by a variety of people. “The Romantics” is streaming globally on Netflix.
Written by Dafne Mistrangelo
