The truth behind Uday Chopra’s move towards Hollywood

The ‘YRF Entertainment’ name itself inspires awe in Bollywood but will Uday Chopra’s foray into Hollywood generate the same there too. Started in 2011 and helmed by Uday Chopra, YRF Entertainment is looking to play the international game. Chopra insists that YRF Entertainment is more his dream project than a calculated corporate move. YRF Entertainment has a Beverly Hills address, it’s got one high profile release, ‘Grace of Monaco’. The Nicole Kidman starrer was the opening film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is releasing this week in India.

As per sources Uday Chopra said, “The idea isn’t a strategic thing. It’s more personal. Like so many people, I’ve grown up watching American movies and around 2010, I started thinking about it and it seemed like an interesting idea — to try and make films in Los Angeles. I came in as the equity partner. At the time I got the script, Nicole was being confirmed. It was a pre-packaged project, but I read the script and I loved it.”

Uday further added that, “The whole idea behind Grace of Monaco was getting my company’s name out. My focus is not on selling Indian cinema to the West. I’m just looking for good stories, in English.
The way industry works in Los Angeles is “very different” from what he is used to back home. In terms of the creative process, because of my background here [in Bollywood], it wasn’t much of a learning curve.It’s easy to raise money for an indie project in America. But it’s getting the right people, getting artists of value attached to your project that is difficult.”

Despite all this, Chopra is confident about YRF Entertainment’s prospects.