Chopra started his journey in filmdom with short films like 'Murder At Monkey Hill' and 'Encounter with Faces'. His first feature film, shot in black-and-white was 'Sazaa-E-Maut' (1981).

He is best known for films like 'Parinda', '1942: A Love Story', 'Mission Kashmir', 'Munna Bhai' series, 'Parineeta' and 'Three Idiots'. Several stalwarts including senior BJP leader L K Advani, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, Mukesh Ambani with wife Nita, Rajkumar Hirani , Anil Kapoor , Sanjay Dutt with wife Manyatta, Jackie Shroff , Manisha Koirala , Sudhir Mishra, Amol Gupte, Anurag Kashyap, Siram Raghavan, Danny Denzongpa , Sharman Joshi, singer Kavita Krishnamurthy, music director Anu Malik were among those present at the PVR Juhu cinema to celebrate '30 years of Striving in Cinema' - A Festival of Vinod Chopra Films'.

Both Advani and Abdullah said they were great fans of Chopra's films "Among Indian filmmakers, Vinod is one of the greatest one. He is one such filmmaker whose films I have seen.

He is one such director whom I respect a lot. Recently, I liked '3 Idiots' the most," Advani told reporters here last night.

Even Union Minister Farooq Abdullah was full of praise for the filmmaker. "Vinod Bhai is a wonderful director and producer and none of his films have failed.

. instead all of his films had a lesson to learn and at the same time there was entertainment also," Abdullah said.

"'Munnabhai' did wonders for him and was liked by everyone, everywhere. Also, he made 'Mission Kashmir' when the time was difficult there.

And my Chief Secretary's house was demolished. But it was fantastic film," he said (less)