DVDs from Yashraj films are interesting for two reasons- first, more often than not they present box-office hit films and second, they are full of special features presenting interesting behind-the-scene tidbits. Their latest DVDs continue the trend in positive way.

Bachna Ae Haseeno-

This glossy film with scenic foreign locales, catchy music and good performances was one of the Yashraj-hits of 2008. This romantic comedy featuring Ranbir Kapoor with three heroines- Minissha Lamba, Bipasha Basu and Deepika Padukone was an enjoyable if predictable fare. The film showed a young man’s journey from being an impetuous philanderer afraid for a long-term commitment into becoming a sensitive man trying to atone for his romantic follies.

The special features section here shows Ranbir Kapoor confessing his fear of heights when he was perched on a cliff during a song-shoot. He also narrates how he cannot swim and nearly drowned while doing a comic scene where he is pushed into the swimming pool and a woman jumps onto him! Minissha Lamba shares her difficulties of wearing skimpy dresses while shooting a song in cold snowy Swiss Alps and Deepika coyly tells how exciting it was to rub ice-cream onto Ranbir’s face. We also get to see some deleted scenes, the making of its songs and the routine ‘Oh, it was such a lovely homely atmosphere’ comments about the film’s making.

Dostana – a bold and bindaas ‘Gay Comedy’ was one of the big successes of 2008. The film told the story of two bachelors pretending to be a gay couple in order to pass off as acceptable paying guests sharing a flat with a single young lady! It was an over-the-top entertainer with plenty of lewd jokes, body show, great music and engaging performances from the lead trio – Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra.

The special features section here is notable for its funny outtakes, where the cast and crew made bloopers during various scenes. In the ‘Making of the film’ almost everyone connected with the film tries hard to convince us that the ‘Gay’ element was done tastefully and was just ‘fun and games’ requirement of the film. The lead actors tell us how great the camaraderie was on their sets, which reflected in their on-screen chemistry and comedy. We also get to see some deleted scenes, music video of songs like Maa Da Laadla and ‘A date with Dostana’ where Karan Johar interviews the lead actors.

Yash Chopra Forever is a DVD for collectors and movie-buffs. It features 35 popular songs from various films directed/produced by Yash Chopra. Songs like Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu, Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shaayar Hoon, Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum, Mere Haathon Mein Nau Nau Choodiyan, Morni, Tujhe Dekha and Le Gayi Le Gayi show Chopra’s mastery on audiovisual medium.

The best part of this DVD is a one hour-interview of Yash Chopra, which is taken by his son Uday Chopra. The veteran film-maker reminisces fondly about his childhood in Punjab, his apprenticeship with his brother-B.R.Chopra, his foray into making his own new banner Yashraj and his son Aditya Chopra’s promising entry into film-making with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge.