Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra dies at 80

Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra, who was known as Hindi cinema’s ‘king of romance’ for making some of Bollywood’s most memorably intense romantic dramas, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday. He was suffering from dengue.

Chopra had celebrated his 80th birthday on September 27. ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, starring Shah Rukh Khan was his final film as director. Regarded as the country’s king of celluloid romance, Chopra has also proved his mettle with intensely emotional and tragic movies, many of which went on to become box-office blockbusters.

Chopra has been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai with an attack of dengue, a spokesperson for his company said. Chopra attended actor Amitabh Bachchan’s 70th birthday party with wife Pamela on October 11.

Born in 1932 in Lahore, now in Pakistan, the film-maker was favoured by leading Indian actors with his movies seen as a sure-fire way to become a hit with audiences.

Chopra recently reminisced about a Bollywood career that spanned five decades, narrating how he came to Mumbai with 200 rupees in his pocket, hoping to make it as a film director.

Chopra’s disclosure, made at an event marking his 80th birthday with actor Shah Rukh Khan by his side, took the Indian film industry by surprise.

“I think I’ve had enough, Shah Rukh,” Chopra replied when Khan asked him about his next project. “I have always lived according to what my heart tells me,” he said. “I won’t make any film after Jab Tak Hai Jaan.”

Since then, Chopra has made some of Indian cinema’s most memorable films — such as ‘Deewar’, ‘Kabhi Kabhie’, ‘Silsila’ and ‘Chandni’. His flamboyant style of film-making, movies filmed in exotic locales and mellifluous music became a hallmark, endearing him to filmgoers.

Chiffon sarees and the Swiss Alps are so synonymous with Chopra’s style of film-making that Switzerland Tourism even offered visitors a guided tour of the places where the director filmed some of his most famous songs and scenes.

Riding on his success, Chopra established Yash Raj Films, one of Bollywood’s biggest production houses, churning out at least three movies a year. In November, the film studio announced its foray into Hollywood, signing on actors such as Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman for its overseas productions.

Chopra also produced Indian cinema’s longest-running blockbuster, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995), which marked the debut of his son Aditya as director.

Minister for I&B, Smt Ambika Soni has condoled the death of veteran director and producer, Shri Yash Chopra. In her condolence message she said, “Today Indian cinema has lost one of its iconic personalities and a creative genius. Through films, Yashji connected generations together. His idea of portraying love as the essence of life and relationships will fondly be remembered by all movie lovers. His untimely death is a void which will be difficult to fill.”

Here’s what celebrities had to say about Yash Chopra

Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) tweets: Heartbreaking news Yash Chopra passes away.

Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) says, “I am in shock. Yash Chopra jee passed away ? What a man. What a loss .. can never forget his warmth, encouragement and humility..”

Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan): “Yash Chopra passes away .. Just now a hour ago.” (Inputs from Reuters)

https://ibnlive.in.com/news/veteran-filmmaker-yash-chopra-dies-at-80/301546-8-66.html

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14 Comments
  1. Rotlu 11 years ago

    One day everyone of us has to go and everyone of us knows it but no body knows when will we depart from this world. It is a SHOCKER as One of the Greatest legendary director who has not only given us some of the Classics All Time Blockbuster Hits but also innumerable opportunities to so many new talents be it actors, directors, script writers, cast or crew has passed away. His style of film making changed/adapted according to time, taste and demand. Rest In Peace Yashji.

  2. sputnik 11 years ago

    RIP

    They kept saying JTHJ is his last movie and it turned out true.

  3. Reddemon 11 years ago

    Rip yashji. He was unable to watch his last muvi. Ab iss se bura ek director k liye kya hoga

  4. mate 11 years ago

    I am extremely shocked to hear this news. At last the end of an era in bollywood. RIP Yash ji.

  5. Aditya007 11 years ago

    RIP Yash Ji & May JTHJ turnOut Big HiT.

  6. Serenzy 11 years ago

    RIP Yash-ji!

    Such a Sad Moment to Die
    without Seeing your Last Movie being Released and that too for a Man who Dedicated arnd 50yrs of his Life to Cinema!

    🙁

  7. hithere 11 years ago

    It is a sad news with his last movie releasing in less than a month. He looked good on Amitabh’s Birthday. RIP.

    • aryan 11 years ago

      Yes its true less than a month JTHJ is going to release and he is no more. I hope his last movie one of the best movie of the year. RIP.

  8. mate 11 years ago

    Is Yash Chopra’s ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ joining Rs200 crore club?

    The late Yash Chopra’s 53-year golden run at the Bollywood box office is, without a doubt, one of the biggest success stories to emerge in the history of Indian cinema.

    Yet, even as members of his family and the film fraternity mourn Chopra’s sudden demise earlier this week from dengue, perhaps his biggest box office triumph has yet to be written.

    Chopra’s final directorial swansong awaits its Diwali release on November 13, with trade pundits predicting a bumper opening for “Jab Tak Hai Jaan”, one that could very well set a benchmark in Bollywood for being the first film to hit the mythical Rs200 crore (Rs2 billion) club.

    Read the rest here:
    https://www.emirates247.com/bollywood/take-one/is-yash-chopra-s-jab-tak-hai-jaan-joining-rs200-crore-club-2012-10-24-1.480162

  9. mate 11 years ago

    Jab Tak Hai Jaan’s release hangs in the balance for Pakistan
    By Rafay MahmoodPublished: October 25, 2012

    KARACHI: As the king of Bollywood romance, Yash Chopra departed from the world earlier this week, his legacy came to an end with his last and final project, Shahrukh Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan, which is all set for a November 13 release worldwide.

    Read the rest here:
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/456811/jab-tak-hai-jaans-release-hangs-in-the-balance-for-pakistan/

  10. Ritz 11 years ago

    Oh!!! rip !

  11. aryan 9 years ago

    Filmmaker Ravi Chopra Dies at 68

    Ravi Chopra belonged to an illustrious Bollywood family. His father was director and producer B R Chopra and his uncle was filmmaker Yash Chopra

    Filmmaker Ravi Chopra died in Mumbai today. He was 68 years old.

    “He passed away today at around 3.30 p.m. His funeral most probably will take place tomorrow at around 11,” a source close to Ravi Chopra’s family told IANS.

    Mr Chopra had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital a few days ago. He had been reportedly suffering from a severe lung ailment since the last few years.

    Mr Chopra belonged to an illustrious Bollywood family. His father was director and producer B R Chopra and his uncle was filmmaker Yash Chopra. Yash Raj scions Aditya and Uday Chopra are Ravi Chopra’s cousins.

    He is survived by his wife and three children.

    Ravi Chopra, who had been hospitalized with a lung ailment in 2012, directed movies like The Burning Train, Baaghban and Babul. He also directed hit TV serial Mahabharata, produced by his father.

    Most recently, Mr Chopra had produced fantasy films Bhoothnath and Bhoothnath Returns, starring Amitabh Bachchan.

    https://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/filmmaker-ravi-chopra-dies-at-68-692528

  12. alfa.one 9 years ago

    RIP. Will always be remembered for Mahabharat and Baghbaan !!

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