Yash Chopra Foundation Expands Scholarship Programme to 11 Students, Adds Robotics and AI Courses for the First Time

Yash Chopra Foundation expands scholarship programme with focus on AI and Robotics

The Yash Chopra Foundation (YCF) has expanded its annual scholarship programme for the 2026–27 academic year, selecting 11 students for financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakh each.

The latest edition marks a notable change in the programme's scope. For the first time, students pursuing Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and other technology-driven courses have been included alongside students studying fields such as media, management, engineering, IT, law and medicine.

The initiative is aimed at children of registered Hindi film industry and Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) members, extending educational support to families connected to the workforce behind the country's film industry.

11 students selected from more than 300 applicants

According to information released about the programme, 11 students were selected from more than 300 registered applicants following a screening process based on academic merit and financial need.

The selected students will receive financial assistance towards their course fees for the

2026-27 academic year. The foundation's official scholarship information states that support can cover up to ₹5 lakh towards total course fees, with approved fees paid directly to the educational institution.

The selected scholars are pursuing a diverse range of programmes, including:

• Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

• Electronics and Computer Science

• Mechanical Engineering

• Information Technology

• Cybersecurity

• Mass Communication and Journalism

• Commerce and Finance

• Management

• Other professional and technical courses

Robotics and AI enter the programme for the first time

The inclusion of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence is one of the key developments in this year's scholarship programme.

YCF has traditionally supported education connected to media, film and creative disciplines. Its current scholarship programme, however, covers a much broader selection of higher-education fields, including engineering and technology, medical and allied health sciences, management, business studies and law.

The foundation's expansion reflects the changing educational aspirations of students from film-industry families. The scholarship is no longer restricted to career paths directly connected with cinema.

Support extends beyond the creative side of cinema

The initiative is particularly relevant to children of workers whose contributions often remain behind the camera.

The Yash Chopra Foundation describes its wider work as supporting daily-wage workers from the Hindi film industry and their families. Its programmes include assistance related to education, healthcare, ration and travel, alongside the scholarship initiative.

The scholarship programme specifically supports higher education for children of eligible film-industry workers and YCF beneficiaries. Eligibility for the 2026 programme includes having at least one parent who is a registered Film Union or Federation member, along with academic and institutional requirements.

What Akshaye Widhani said?

Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films, said the scholarship programme is intended to extend support to the next generation of families connected with the Hindi film industry's workforce.

He highlighted the wider range of fields represented by this year's scholars, including Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, engineering and medicine, while noting that the opportunities offered through the initiative are evolving alongside the industry and students' aspirations.

The scholarship programme's broader purpose

The Yash Chopra Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Yash Raj Films. Its stated objective is to support the welfare and long-term well-being of workers who contribute to the Hindi film industry.

The foundation says its work has expanded over the years from pandemic-era assistance to longer-term programmes addressing education, healthcare, food security and other everyday needs.

The scholarship programme represents the education-focused part of that broader effort. By helping with higher-education fees, the initiative seeks to reduce the financial burden on eligible families while allowing students to pursue professional qualifications.

From cinema education to technology careers

The addition of AI and Robotics creates an interesting shift in the programme.

While the scholarship continues to support students interested in film, media, animation, visual arts and communication, the 2026-27 cohort also includes students preparing for careers in areas such as computer science, cybersecurity and robotics.

That makes the programme relevant not only to the future of the entertainment industry but also to the broader professional ambitions of children from film-industry families.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The most significant aspect of this year's YCF scholarship programme is not simply the number of beneficiaries or the financial amount. It is the expansion of what the programme considers a future career path.

A child of a technician, spot worker, lightman or another film-industry worker does not necessarily have to follow a career in cinema. The inclusion of AI, Robotics, engineering, cybersecurity and other professional fields recognises that these students may have ambitions well beyond the traditional creative disciplines.

For YCF, this also broadens the meaning of supporting the film industry's workforce: assistance to workers' families can extend into education and career opportunities for the next generation.

Sources & Verification

This report was prepared using the Yash Chopra Foundation's official scholarship and foundation pages, along with current secondary coverage of the 2026-27 scholarship selections. The foundation confirms financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakh, eligibility requirements and the broader range of courses supported. Current reporting identifies 11 selected students from more than 300 applicants and confirms the first inclusion of Robotics and technology-led courses.

The supplied editorial guidelines were also followed for source hierarchy, attribution, original structure and separation of confirmed information from attributed statements.