Vidhu Vinod Chopra: ‘My family had to leave Kashmir overnight, Shikara is my own story’

Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s upcoming film Shikara which revolves around the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir has been trending ever since he released the trailer of his film. However, not many know that the film is VVC and his families own story.

The Chopras had to leave Kashmir in 1990 when the extremists had forced Hindus to leave the valley. He has dedicated the film to his mother Shanti Devi Chopra and even his female protagonist is named Shanti in the movie.

When asked what things did he keep in mind while making this movie as it’s based on a very sensitive topic, he said, “I had to keep my mother in my mind while making this film because I have made this film for her. Any other producer-director would have made 10 films in the time that I have given to this movie. So much time, so much hard work has gone into this movie.”

“So my inspiration was my mother and our story. My brother Vijay Chopra had to leave Kashmir overnight. He had to run from there and he came to Mumbai. This film is my own story, this is very special. I spent a lot of time and I am very happy that all the young crew and AR Rahman got together to do this with me,” he further added.

Directed and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film will release on February 7.