Yash Chopra, Bollywood's ace director is dead

I am so sad...

If you are a lover of Indian movies, you are sure to know who the legend Yash Chopra is. He has directed a lot of my favorite movies and I personally mourn him...

Read on please...

Indian film industry, Bollywood has been thrown into mourning with the death of ace film director, screen writer and producer, Yash Chopra.

Chopra, known as “King of Romance” died in Mumbai on Sunday at the age of 80 after contracting dengue fever and experiencing multiple organ failure.

He dedicated five decades to bringing award winning Bollywood romance movies to the screens with hits such as Deewar(Wall), Chandni (Moonlight), Dhoom,and Dil To Pagal Hai ( The Heart is Mad) and Veer Zaara. His latest Hindi movie Jab Tak Hai Jaan (As long as I am alive) starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma is scheduled for release across India on November 13.

His sons, Aditya who is a successful film director and Uday Chopra run the international branch of the family’s production house.

According to Zee News, Chopra announced that he was retiring from directing in a conversation with actor Shah Rukh on September 27, his 80th birthday.

The director had said that 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' was his last film as a director.

Born on September 27, 1932 in Lahore, India, Chopra delved into the movie industry as an assistant to I S Johar and then with his brother. He made his directional debut in 1959 with ‘Dhool Ka Phool and in 1973, set up his own production company, Yash Raj Films under which he made ‘Khabie Khusi Khabie Gham’. 

He was instrumental for shaping the careers of Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachan and Shar Rukh Khan.

Amitabh Bachchan shared his feelings on his passing saying that Chopra deserved to live longer.

Bachchan wrote this on his blog srbachchan.com when he announced Chopra’s death, "An association of 44 years abruptly comes to an end. He went away too soon and too suddenly. He deserved to be with us longer. Yash Chopra, a friend first, a creative legend later, has passed away this (Sunday) evening in the late hours," he wrote.

Originally published in BusinessDay