Thoughts On Meeting A Bollywood Legend

Last night was a moment of history in the world of cinema. After all, it was a private screening with Vinod Chopra on his very first full length English-language film, Broken Horses. This is the person that has produced epic films such as 3 Idiots, the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time. But besides the high monetary value these films produce, Mr. Chopra’s stories connect with human emotions in a way that enlightens one’s perspective. It is epochal moment to have a Bollywood producer create a film in Hollywood. It is a milestone for the history of international cinema, and it is a metaphor for individuals like myself whose cultures are interwoven from the fabric of Bollywood and Hollywood.

While my roots lie in the Indian subcontinent, I have been fully raised in the west. Gathering around the tv to watch a Bollywood movie with my parents was one of the ways I connected with my eastern culture. It was a bit surreal to meet Vinod Chopra. Here was a humble and jovial person that had a hand in shaping the way I understand my identity. Even though Mr. Chopra has such a large influence over those who watch his films, his friendly disposition makes him completely approachable. I had the chance to ask Mr. Chopra how his interactions in Hollywood have been in comparison to working in Bollywood. One notable aspect about Bollywood is the importance of relations. Bollywood does seem like one giant family. A family the viewer is not necessarily excluded from. When I met Mr. Chopra, it felt as if I was meeting an old friend. His ideas and thoughts have been shared with me on many occasions through his movies played in the comfort of one’s home.

I believe it is this reason why it is have been very exciting to be working at a firm that plays an integral role with Bollywood and Hollywood. Here I am, working in an area of the law that plays a key role in disseminating Indian films to the American public. I feel at ease working with an industry that I have known since a child. This is an industry that has been a medium by which I can express myself. It is humbling to be able to work in a field that has influenced my identity and countless others. Working at Peter Law Group is a historical moment for myself as well.