’King of Romance’ Yash Chopra no more

Mumbai, 21 Oct 2012 (PTI): Iconic film maker Yash Chopra, who was known as Hindi cinema’s "king of romance" and also made some memorable action films like "Deewar", died here today following dengue infection and multiple organ failure.

 

80-year-old Chopra, whose upcoming and last film was rather ironically titled `Jab Tak Hain Jaan’ (till there is life), was admitted to Lilavati hospital here on October 13 with dengue and has remained in the hospital. He celebrated his 80th birthday on September 27.

 

Chopra is survived by wife Pamela and two sons filmmaker Aditya Chopra and actor-producer Uday Chopra.

 

The veteran producer-director had attended Amitabh Bachchan’s 70th birthday party with wife Pamela on October 10. It was Chopra’s "Deewar" which established megastar Bachchan as the "angry young man".

 

Although he began his five-decade career making different kinds of films, Chopra is today known mostly for the romantic films like ’Silsila’, ’Chandni’, ’Dilwale Duhania Le Jayenge’, ’Mohabbatein’ and ’Veer Zara’.

 

The term ’Yash Chopra romance’ is used to typify the kind of romantic films the filmmaker made in Bollywood.

 

"He(Chopra) passed away due to dengue and multiple organ failure today evening. He was in the ICU," Dr Sudhir, spokesperson of Lilavati hospital told PTI.

 

"With deep regret we announce the sad demise of Mr Yash Chopra, who breathed his last at around 5:30 PM today. Details of his last rites will be communicated a little later," Yash Raj Films spokesperson said.

 

On his 80th birthday, Chopra, who directed his first film ’Dhool Ka Phool’ way back in 1959, announced retirement from direction. He had followed the footsteps of his elder brother B R Chopra in film making.

 

In an interaction with actor Shah Rukh Khan, Chopra said "This (’Jab Tak Hai Jaan’) will be my last film as a director. There are some calculations that you make with your heart and now I have decided that I won’t direct a film after this. I think the time has come for me to take a back seat now." ’Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ starring Sharukh Khan is due to be released on November 13.

 

Chopra, who also directed ’Waqt’ and ’Kabhie Kabhie’, said his family was in fact against his following in the footsteps of his brother.

 

The filmmaker rose to fame in 1965 after the commercially and critically successful drama, ’Waqt’, which pioneered the concept of multi-starrers in Bollywood.

 

"My elder brother (B R Chopra) was already into films so my family wanted me to become an engineer... I told my brother I want to become a director," Chopra had said on his last birthday.

 

His debut film ’Dhool Ka Phool’, ’Dharamputra’ and ’Ittefaq’ were all produced for B R Chopra’s production house.

 

In 1973, Yash Chopra founded his own production company Yash Raj Films.

 

Though he started out in the late 50s, Chopra always had his finger on the pulse of the audience and continued to deliver blockbusters in every following decade.

 

According to sources, Chopra’s body is likely to be brought to his residence in suburban Juhu at around 9.30 PM.

 

Security has been beefed up around Chopra’s house and several barricades are being put up there, sources said.

 

The filmmaker was looking forward to the release of ’Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in the lead.

 

Katrina felt Chopra shouldn’t have retired from direction as no one could match up to him.

 

"I think he shouldn’t have retired. It is sad that he announced his retirement. He is a legend and I don’t think anyone can match up to him. It is a huge loss. I feel I am honoured to be part of his last film," Katrina had said during a promotional event here.

 

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar said she and Chopra shared family relations. "He made me sing in all his films. He was a jovial person and interacted with everyone with love... Even when he was angry, he simply kept quiet."

 

Reacting to the news, filmmaker Subhash Ghai said, "Yashji was the guru of industry. He was always full of energy. He will be remembered forever."