When it comes to weaving love stories on the silver screen, legendary director Yash Chopra owned that space. But there was another domain that Chopra — billed as the king of romance – excelled in. He was the kingmaker to many stars. Through his films he manipulated the career trajectory of actors and launched them into the big league.

There’s an inside joke in Bollywood that goes: an actor or actress hasn’t arrived until they get signed on by a Yash Raj production. It’s the ultimate token of Bollywood acceptance.

For an actress, being labelled a “Yash Raj heroine” remains a matter of great pride.

Purists may turn up their nose on the blatant objectification of the female form, but wearing flimsy white saris and dancing in the rain seemed to have the power to immortalise stars.

For male stars, Chopra and his production house was also an exercise in brand building. Perhaps the greatest testimony to their image-sculpting power is Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. While the latter consolidated the tag of angry young man through Deewar and Trishul, Khan made obsessive lovers fashionable through dramas such as Darr.

tabloid! gives you a look at Chopra’s discoveries and how he had the power to re-define the destinies of stars.

Parveen Babi:

In the 1970s, Bollywood’s heroines were virginal, uncomplicated souls. Then came along Anita (Parveen Babi) in Chopra’s 1975 directorial venture Deewar. She drank, smoked and had pre-marital sex – all considered a taboo for a quintessential Bollywood heroine. For the first time, the leading lady was showcased as a seductress who knew her mind. Shattering stereotypes, the role was instrumental in Babi being the first Indian woman to be featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1976 and was celebrated for her bold career move.

Amitabh Bachchan:

Zanjeer, directed by Prakash Mehra, may have earned Big B the tag of India’s angry young man. But it was Yash Chopra that helped him cement that reputation. Deewar, the tale of an impoverished Vijay who becomes a powerful rich criminal catapulted Bachchan into the big league. The cutting anti-establishment dialogue is still etched in the collective memory of Bollywood buffs.

Shah Rukh Khan:

When it comes to romancing beautiful ladies on the silver screen, nobody does it better than Shah Rukh Khan. His teacher is none other than director Yash Chopra. If Baazigar gave Khan his first Bollywood breakthrough, it was Chopra’s obsessive lover tale Darr that made Khan stay put in Bollywood. His role as the cynic-in-love, Rahul, who runs a drama theatre company, remains one of Khan’s biggest blockbusters.

Cut to 2012. When Khan’s scientific experiment Ra.One didn’t have the desired box office results, he turned to romance and its expert Chopra to resurrect his invincible star status. Enter Jab Tak Hai Jaan, which was declared the swan song of Chopra on his 80th birthday. Going by their past record at weaving love stories, JTHJ will be the mother of all love stories. It releases on November 13.

Juhi Chawla:

She was Bollywood’s go-to girl for cheerful roles. Looking pretty and grinning incessantly was all in a day’s work for her. Until Darr happened. In this film, movie buffs were treated to a superb performance from Chawla. She played Kiran, the helpless victim stalked by an obsessive lover. Looking petrified instead of gratingly happy was also a welcome relief to her fans. It remains one of her iconic roles till date. For those asking: Yes, she danced in white flimsy saris during the film.

Karishma Kapoor:

To put it mildly, Karishma Kapoor got a frosty reception from Bollywood movie buffs. Her bushy eyebrows, liberal make-up and bad clothes didn’t go down too well. But audiences warmed up to her in Dil To Pagal Hai. Stripped of bad make-up, Chopra showcased her toned body and dancing skills. The scene in which she admits to falling in love with her best friend (Shah Rukh Khan) and admits to hating him for not loving her back, earned Kapoor her first National Award for Best Supporting role.

Sridevi:

Even today, it’s slim pickings for Bollywood heroines and good roles are usually a male preserve. But Yash Chopra was one of the few directors who didn’t shy away from making heroine-oriented films. Lamhe, the turbulent drama of a young girl who falls in love with a man old enough to be her father, is one such fine example. We saw Sridevi at her best as she made the sacrilegious union palatable. The film wasn’t a blockbuster, but gave Sridevi the role of a lifetime.

Rishi Kapoor:

Just when Bollywood was writing off Rishi Kapoor in the late 1980s, he came back with a bang in Chopra’s romance Chandni. His role as a rich wheelchair bound lover gave Kapoor a new lease of life in Bollywood. Even though the film belonged to Sridevi, Kapoor did his bit well and underlined Chopra’s talent in resurrecting careers. Kapoor stayed on and continues to act in musicals and dramas today.