Anupama Chopra, also known as Miss Congeniality, is a name much known in the Indian film industry as a film critic, author, journalist, and director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. She is the founder and director of the digital platform Film Companion which offers a curated look at cinema. Anupama has also written books on Indian cinema and is a popular film critic for Hindustan Times, NDTV, and India Today.
Anupama Chopra Personal Details
| Name | Anupama Chopra |
| Popular As | Miss Congeniality |
| Age (As of 2022) | 55 years |
| Date of Birth | 23-Feb-67 |
| Place of Birth | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Hometown | Bandra, Mumbai |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Profession | Film critic, author, and journalist |
| Father’s Name | Navin Chandra (Ex-executive with Union Carbide, Kolkata) |
| Mother’s Name | Kamna Chandra (Scriptwriter) |
| Siblings | Sister – Tanuja Chandra (Indian film director and screenwriter) and Brother – Vikram Chandra (Novelist) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Vidhu Vinod Chopra (Hindi film producer and director) |
| Children | Son – Agni Dev Chopra (Cricketer) and Daughters – Zuni Chopra (writer), Ishaa Chopra (stepdaughter) |
| Hobbies | Reading and traveling |
| Net Worth | INR 30 million |
Anupama Chopra’s Early Life
- Anupama was born in the Chandra Parshad family in Kolkata and later also lived in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh.
- She was brought up with her family in Nepean Sea Road and then in Cuffe Parade in Mumbai.
- Anupama was fond of films since her childhood.
Anupama Chopra’s Educational Qualifications
- Anupama graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai with a BA in English literature in 1987.
- She completed her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Anupama Chopra’s Journalist Journey
- Anupama started her career as a journalist in New York with the magazine ‘Harper’s Bazaar’.
- Her detailed story about mafia culture in Bollywood in the Sunday magazine made her come into the limelight in the early 1990s.
- Anupama’s career excelled to new heights as she wrote a long write-up on the 1993 Mumbai serial blast and interviewed people in the mafia.
- Anupama hosted a film review show called ‘Picture This’s on NDTV 24×7 channel.
- In 2012, she also started her weekly review show called ‘Front Row with Anupama Chopra’ on Star World.
- In 2014, Anupama hosted a Hindi show on Star Plus by the name ‘Star Verdict’.
- In July 2014, she founded ‘Film Companion’ on YouTube, a pan-India entertainment journalism platform, where she critiques Hindi films, television, and web series.
- Anupama became the chairperson of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in November 2014, replacing Shyam Benegal.
Anupama Chopra as an Author
- Anupama debuted as an author with the book, ‘Sholay: The Making of a Classic’, in 2000, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the film, Sholay.
- She wrote a book on Shah Rukh Khan in 2007, titled ‘King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema’.
- Anupama also wrote ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ as a modern classic series.
- Her 2011 publication, ‘First Day First Show: Writings from the Bollywood Trenches’ is a compilation of her articles on Hindi cinema over 2 decades.
- In 2013, Anupama released 2 books, ‘Freeze Frame’ and ‘100 Films to See Before You Die’, based on interviews with filmmakers and actors on the TV show and her weekly film column respectively.
- Her latest release, ‘The Front Row: Conversations on Cinema’ is a collection of her television interviews with both Bollywood and Hollywood personalities.
Anupama Chopra’s Achievements and Awards
- Anupama won the Harrington Award for ‘academic excellence and promise for success in the field of magazine journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
- She won the National film award for best book on cinema (India) in 2001 for her debut book, Sholay: The Making of a Classic.
- Her book on Shah Rukh Khan was featured on the annual editor’s choice list of the New York Times Book Review. It was also translated into Polish, German, and Indonesian languages.
- Anupama’s works have been published in India Today and Vogue India.
- Her writing about Hindi films has been featured in various international publications like Los Angeles Times, Sight & Sound, The New York Times, and Variety.
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