Says will only return for Dhoom 4.
By Tathagata Mitra
BANGALORE: Uday Chopra, whose most popular role is that of Ali in the Dhoom franchise, has finally decided to call it a day in Bollywood and turn to producing films for the international market.
Son of the late Yash Chopra, and brother of Aditya Chopra, one of India’s biggest producers, Uday had little claim to fame other than Abhishek Bachchan’s glorified sidekick in the Dhoom series of films.
Dhoom, which was one of the first fast action-cum-buddy cop films in Bollywood, has had successful stints at the box office. The sequels Dhoom 2 and Dhoom 3 were also highly successful films. Dhoom 3 is the highest grossing film of Bollywood of all times without adjusting for inflation.
Apparently Uday had announced his retirement from acting almost three years ago. According to an IANS report dated June 29, 2011 he had tweeted “Ok confession time… Dhoom 3 is my swan song… my last film… no I’m not giving up acting… quite the opposite, acting is giving up on me!”
What Uday plans to do from here on out is to turn into a full-fledged producer for his own YRF Entertainment, which will produce Hollywood films and would make a name for the brand in that industry.
Uday’s YRF Entertainment recently co-produced the Grace Kelly biopic Grace of Monaco starring Nicole Kidman and Tim Roth. Although a critical failure, the film has become popular by dint of its subject and its star cast. The film will release in India this Friday.
About his acting career, Uday has told the media, “That’s over. My focus is not there. Also, I don’t have time to act.”
On the possibility to return in Dhoom 4: “I would take time out for ‘Dhoom 4’ if at all they want me in it or else it’s pretty much over.”
The actor turned producer has shifted base from Mumbai to Los Angeles. He is currently learning filmmaking at UCLA.
About the possibility of him directing a film, the Mohabbatein star told the IANS, “I do come from a family of directors. I do think at some point I would like to try it. I would try and direct a film in India instead of directing a film abroad. I think it will be easier for me to direct a film in India but it will take few years.”
Uday Chopra made his acting debut in the Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan starrer Mohabbatein. Dhoom 3 is his last film where he played a cop alongside Aamir Khan and Abhishek Bachchan.