Life goes on for Yash Chopra's widow, Pamela

Late Yash Chopra's widow Pamela attends puja at the family's studio for the first time after filmmaker's death in October

In the film industry they say, the show must go on. And staying true to the spirit, Pamela Chopra, the late Yash Chopra's widow attended a puja on the premises of her family's production house to signal the beginning of the company's next project.

On Tuesday morning, Pam, as she is fondly called, was spotted attending the traditional ceremony at the Yash Raj Films studio. The puja marked the start of director Abbas Ali Zafar's new film.

The star cast of the film including Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Sushant Singh were present. Only Ranveer Singh was missing, as the actor has been shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next.

A source from the studio says, It has been a custom for Yashji and Pam to attend the mahurat of every film before it starts. It was an emotional moment for her to attend the puja without her husband by her side for the first time.

The shooting of the film commences in Mumbai and will then proceed to Kolkata. Chopra had passed away in October after suffering from dengue.

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Special tribute to Yash Chopra in Morocco

The Marrakech film festival will pay a special tribute to late Yash Chopra and will host an Indian delegation led by Amitabh Bachchan

Thousands of miles away from the Indian shores, Marrakech is all set to celebrate the 100 years of Indian cinema with the biggest film festival. The gala that will kick off on December 1 will see an Indian delegation of actors including Hrithik Roshan, Tabu, Abhay Deol, Arjun Rampal, Priyanka Chopra, Sridevi and others led by Amitabh Bachchan.

Sources also say that a special tribute for the late filmmaker Yash Chopra has been arranged in the Moroccan city alongside the screening of Jab Tak Hai Jaan. SRK is also likely to be present.

Bachchan says, `I remember with deep gratitude my last visit to Marrakech in October 2003 and the warmth and the hospitality that was extended to us during our short stay. I look forward to the pleasure of being there again.`

Some of the films that will be screened during the festival are Don, Don 2, Jodhaa Akbar, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Student of the year, English Vinglish, Veer Zaara and Barfi!

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JTHJ premiere will be moving museum of Yash Chopra's work: SRK

"I don't know the exact designing, that Adi (Aditya), Uday and Pam aunty must be doing with a lot of love and care. Hopefully, everybody will come, have a great time and enjoy this eventful and entertaining film, " he added.

Shah Rukh also said that the grand premiere was planned even before Yash Chopra's death Oct 21.

"The decision to have a premiere was actually even before he passed away. We were thinking of how to do it. At that time the idea was that we'll do the different aspects of cinema he has done - romance, thrill and everyone can party all around the studio, " Shah Rukh said.

JTHJ, releasing on Diwali Nov 13, also stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.

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Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna gives ode to Yash Chopra

Sahara One's show "Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna" will pay tribute to late filmmaker Yash Chopra by using a song from his movie "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" in their Karva Chauth episode.

The show will have characters of Aditya (Sushil Hinduja) and Meera (Binny Sharma) celebrate Karva Chauth and song "Ghar aa ja pardesi" will be played, to which Meera will perform.

Meera will also express her love for Aditya in the episode, which will air Nov 5.

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Yash Chopra and I bonded beyond films: SRK

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said here Monday that his relationship with filmmaker Yash Chopra was much beyond films and that of late he was more like a father figure to him.

"Yash ji and I used to talk about life. I had a relationship with him which was beyond films and more than films. We never sat down and discussed much about the film," he said at a promotional event for their upcoming film "Jab Tak Hai Jaan". 

The love story stars Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif and was Yash Chopra's last film. The filmmaker passed away Oct 21 after being diagnosed with dengue.

Shah Rukh has worked in many of Yash Chopra's films like "Veer Zara", "Dil Toh Pagal Hai" and "Darr". 

"I am very sad. But I can't feel his loss. I had worked with him for 20 years and we will continue to see his films for another 500 years," he said.

The actor was very happy with the way the media has celebrated the legacy of the filmmaker after his sad demise. 

"There is a certain dignity by the way it has been covered. I have been watching all the programmes made on his life. I am not feeling sad that he is not there. I feel sad but there is a strange feeling that he has not gone. He is still surrounding us," he said. 

To celebrate Yash Chopra's 80th birthday, Shah Rukh had conducted an extensive interview with the film-maker. 

"He had so many things to share. He normally never did so many interviews, he was a very quiet person. This was Adi's (Aditya Chopra) idea and we had to convince Yash ji to do it. It was wonderful that we did it. I feel blessed to get such an opportunity," Shah Rukh said. 
Anushka Sharma, who worked with the film-maker for the first time in "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", said that the experience was surreal. 

"To get the opportunity to work with Yash Chopra is perfect. To work in his film was surreal. There is no one who has anything bad to say about him. He had such a loving nature and childlike behaviour," she said. 

Katrina Kaif, who will also be seen in "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", said: "It was like a dream come true. Working with him was more than an experience." 

"Jab Tak Hai Jaan" releases Nov 13.

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Kirron Kher breaks down after viewing Yash Chopra video tribute

Kirron Kher, who is judging India's Got Talent currently, broke down on the set when the makers played an audio visual on Yash Chopra

Kirron and Karan Johar could not hold back their tears. The crew also observed a minute's silence for the veteran filmmaker. Farah Khan then tried to console her co-judges on the show.

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Big B reminisces about Yash Chopra

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan met late filmmaker Yash Chopra's wife Pamela at their house here and went down memory lane.

"Went and spent sometime with Pam, Yashji's wife at their house... so many memories attached to this place," Big B tweeted.

Yash Chopra died Oct 21 following multi-organ failure. He was 80.

Amitabh did some of his most memorable projects including "Kabhi Kabhie", "Deewaar", "Trishul" and "Silsila" with the iconic filmmaker, who redefined romance on the screen, and gave the Big B his 'angry young man' tag.

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Yash Chopra had a soft corner for Pakistan: Iram Parveen Bilal

Saying she had a "long love history with Mumbai", visiting Pakistani director Iram Parveen Bilal says late Bollywood veteran Yash Chopra, who had a "soft corner for Pakistan", was such a source of inspiration for her that after graduating in engineering she took the plunge into filmmaking.

The young director, who has made her first film after four years of arduous work, grew up watching Chopra's evergreen romances "Kabhi Kabhi", "Chandni" and the like.

"I have always been a big nerd and I was selected to go to the Asian Olympiad of Physics. But my parents and me always loved Bollywood films. I have been brought up in Nigeria and Pakistan and I grew up watching films like 'Silsila', 'Kabhi Kabhi', 'Chandni', " Bilal told in an interview.

Bilal spent four years working on her debut film "Josh", which was the only fiction-category film from Pakistan to be screened at the just concluded 14th Mumbai Film Festival. She was happy to be here with her debut film, but was heartbroken that she won't get to meet her idol Yash Chopra again, who died Oct 21.

Talking about her association with the veteran filmmaker, she said: "I have a long love history with Mumbai. I came here for the first time in 2004... Every time I came here, I met Yashji. No matter how busy he was, he would take out 5-10 minutes for me. He used to give me his pearls of wisdom. But the fact that he is no more and I won't be able to meet him is heartbreaking, " she said.

"He (Chopra) was born in Lahore so he always had a soft corner for Pakistan. I was here when 'Veer-Zaara' released and it was a friend of a friend who introduced me to him. He welcomed me with open arms. He was a humble man who wanted to inspire people. I took advice from him and he always said in Raj Kapoor's style, 'The show must go on'."

"I don't know anyone in his family, but I will go and pay my respects to him, " Bilal said.

Her movie "Josh" is the story of a privileged woman Fatima, played by Pakistan's supermodel and leading actress Aamina Sheikh, who is in search of a dangerous truth in her nanny Nusrat's feudal village.

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Priyanka Chopra pays tribute to Yash Chopra

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has paid tribute to legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra, who passed away last week, at an awards ceremony here

The 30-year-old actress performed on hit numbers from Chopra's films in his five decade long career at the People's Choice Awards last evening.

"A most touching tribute to Yash Chopra by Priyanka performing to all or most of his popular songs throughout his numerous films, " Amitabh Bachchan, who attended the event, wrote on his blog.

Bachchan, 70, bagged the Best TV Host award for 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'. "How did it happen ? It's the People's Choice Award by Colors channel for the Best Tv Host for KBC... thank you all that voted for me!, " he added.

The award ceremony also saw the newly-wed couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor team up for a live performance first time after their marriage.

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Meet Yash Chopra's Original Chandni

I can't believe Yash is gone! Did he die of complications related to dengue? Sad! He was very fond of me. Why? Don't ask me. Maybe because he was fond of food and I loved to cook. I still do. So the combination of a someone who enjoyed cooking and someone who enjoyed eating worked for us. He used to order me to make his favourite food. I used to cook his favourite dishes. Those were lovely times. They'll never come back.

During the outdoor shooting of Kabhi Kabhie I'd cook and the entire team would sit and eat together. Nowadays forget about eating together, actors don't eat! I remember Yash and and the whole team used to play games with coins worth Rs 5. We used to have a great time entertaining ourselves. 

My association with Yash Chopra started even before Daag I knew Yash and his wife Pam from the time when they were just married. The first time I worked with Yash was in Joshila in 1972 where I played the female lead with Dev Anand. 

Even before Joshila Yash came to with Ittefaq. I couldn't do that film because I was committed to do Jeevan Mrityu with director Satyen Bose as my first film. Joshila started my long association with two of my favourite film personalities Dev Anand and Yash Chopra. 
When Yash directed his first independent film I don't know why he chose me for Daag. I was relatively new at that time. And mine was the author-backed role in Daag. 

My character was taken from novelist Gulshan Nanda's novel Maili Chandni. People liked my character of Chandni and our connection continued. I didn't have a single song in Daag. But did I really care about such things! The unconventional route always fascinated me. Why only in Daag, in my subsequent films with Yash-Trishul and Kala Patthar-I didn't have any songs. 

When I married Gulzar, Yash became our neighbour. He then offered me Kabhi Kabhie after my marriage. I think Kabhie Kabhie was conceived keeping me in mind. Lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi, I think, wrote the songs keeping me in mind. Gulzar and I used to regularly visit Yash's home. This was during those times when I was pregnant with my daughter Meghna and Yash's son Adi was a child. 

One day in the presence Amitabh Bachchan they played a song and Pam said, 'This song is for Raakhee'. That's how Kabhi Kabhie was offered to me. 
Yash Chopra said, 'I'd drop the film. But I won't make it with any other heroine. 'Since acting was the only thing I enjoyed, I agreed to do the film even after marriage. When we started shooting for Kabhi Kabhie I had to do intensely romantic scenes with Amitabh. That was a problem, since Amitabh and Jaya called me 'Bahurani'. So Kabhi Kabhie started on a note of conflict for me. 

The first day of shooting when Amitabh had to sing Sahir's romantic line to me while I had my hair in his lap, I felt so awkward. Yash helped me to get over awkwardness.... Yash was like a family member. He would come home, open the cupboard and say, 'I want you to wear this saree for tomorrow's shooting. ' 

Do you know, all the jewellery that I wore for my suhaag raat scene in Kabhie Kabhie were my own jewellery from my own wedding! Yash had great observation powers. He wanted me to a wear a shaadi ka joda in Kabhi Kabhie exactly like the one worn by singer Mukesh's daughter during her wedding.

God knows how he remembered that particular joda. I think he just revered everything to do with women. He romanced romance to the fullest. Not only his heroines, Yash was equally fascinated by everything to do with his wife. He wanted her to wear particular perfumes only, so that he'd feel her presence. He was enamoured of femininity. 
After Kabhi Kabhie I did Trishul with Yash and in-between Trishul I shot for Doosra Aadmi which Yash produced and Ramesh Talwar directed. When Trishul was narrated to me by Salim-Javed in Yash's presence I was hesitant about playing the working girl. They insisted, . I had a very bold role in Doosra Aadmi.

I had to smoke and drink and romance Rishi Kapoor. Come to think of it I never really played the conventional romantic heroine with Amitabh in Yash Chopra's films. In Kabhi Kabhie I loved Amitabh but I married Shashi Kapoor  In Trishul and Kala Patthar I had no romantic songs with Amitabh.

Yash wasn't too heavily into technical aspects of filmmaking. He went by the heart. His approach to filmmaking was lyrical. There was no vulgarity about his presentation. And he was fascinated with femininity. He had a certain image and vision of the ideal woman.
You won't find his heroines behaving, dressing or talking loudly. There was a great dignity in his women. And I think he continued portraying his heroines as 'Chandni' till his last film. He portrayed the man-woman relationship in all its splendour. 

Yash was a thinker on the sets. He never raised his voice. I remember he used to put his hand in his coat and he'd stare towards the sky. What did he think about? I wonder!He had a great team to execute his vision. The last film I did with Yash was Kala Patthar. Then I ceased to be heroine-material. 

Sridevi and then Madhuri Dixit played Yash's ideal woman. One has to make way. Just like before me there was Mala Sinha, Sharmila Tagore and Sadhana in Yash Chopra's films. The older must make way for the young. But I really enjoyed the variety of roles I did with Yash. I played Rishi Kapoor's mother in Kabhi Kabhie and his beloved in Doosra Aadmi.

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It's work as usual at Yash Raj Films

Despite Yash Chopra's untimely death, his production house did not halt the shooting of 'Aurangzeb' starring Arjun Kapoor 

Staying true to the adage Life goes on Yash Raj Films did not cancel the shoot of their ongoing film, even after the untimely demise of the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra.

Chopra's death on Sunday sent shock waves through the industry, as a result of which several parties and events stood cancelled to honour the great auteur.

However, in the true spirit of the late filmmaker, his own production house carried on with the shooting of their upcoming film starring Arjun Kapoor.

A source informed, The unit was shocked at the death of Chopra while they were shooting in Delhi. However, they were informed by the banner to continue with their work as the filmmaker would want the show to go on.
The official spokesperson of the studio says, Yash Chopra would have wanted it that way and so keeping in with his work ethics, the shooting schedule was not cancelled. However, the unit took a short break to pay their respects to Yashji.

Some no shows...

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor cut short their wedding celebrations at Delhi to come and meet the bereaved Chopra family. 

Hrithik Roshan cancelled his shoot in Jordan and returned to Mumbai. 

Subhash Ghai cancelled his annual party on October 24 to pay respect to Yash Chopra. 

Mukesh Bhatt cancelled the shoot of his upcoming film. 

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Bollywood pays respects to Yash Chopra

Bollywood celebrities Thursday paid their respects to legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra who passed away Oct 21. The 'chautha' ceremony, the fourth day ritual after the cremation, was held at the Yash Raj Studios.

Many Bollywood celebs were present. Among them: Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Jitendra, Gulzar, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Subhash Ghai, Mahesh Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan, Boney Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Kirron Kher, Sonakshi Sinha, Milan Luthria, Farah Khan, Anushka Sharma, Pankaj Udhas, Ashutosh Gowariker, Javed Akhtar, Ranveer Singh, Juhi Chawla, Zoya Akhtar, Ameesha Patel, Madhur Bhandarkar and Ramesh Taurani.

Veteran 80-year-old filmmaker Yash Chopra died here at the Lilavati Hospital Sunday, following multiple organ failure resulting from complications that arose after contracting dengue.

Yash Chopra gave romance a new meaning with films like "Daag", "Kabhi Kabhie", "Silsila", "Chandni", and "Dil Toh Pagal Hai" and his own favourite "Lamhe".

Before his death, he was busy shooting for "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" with Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma. He had completed the entire schedule, except for a song.

The film is slated for release Diwali, Nov 13.

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I introduced Pamela to the late Yash Chopra at a wedding

The talk show host Simi Garewal talks about introducing cousin Pamela to the late Yash Chopra at a wedding 

Not many know that Simi Garewal and Yash Chopra's wife Pamela are first cousins. Simi's mother Darshi and Pamela's father Mohinder Singh were siblings. Interestingly, it was Simi who had introduced Pamela to Yash at a wedding! 

Says Simi, Pam's father was in the Navy and was stationed in Delhi. She had accompanied me to a wedding where a lot of film folk including Yashji were present. Their marriage in 1970 was a grand affair with lots of naach gaana. I still remember actress Mumtaz dancing in the baaraat.
Simi adds that Pam always liked music and dance. She loved to sing Punjabi songs and would teach me how to sing with the right accent. Whatever Punjabi songs I know, I owe it to her. Pam had also learnt bharatnatyam and I recall as youngsters during holiday time we would be dancing till 2 am. She would keep on saying tha thei thei thath till I would get the steps right.

Simi adds, Initially, she would be there at the music sessions for Yashji's films. Yashji would take a lot of inputs from her till the children (Aditya and Uday) came along. Yashji always remained a priority in Pam's life. She was totally devoted to him.

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Late Yash Chopra's Jab Tak Hai Jaan will release as incomplete?

The veteran Director Yash Chopra had finished shooting the entire film before leaving the world. But the Last song was yet to be filmed and got postponed due to his illness. The romantic sequence to be shot with Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif in Switzerland was supposed to be the last time he called the shots.

But now, with the news of his demise, it seems that the song will be cancelled altogether. Because according to Yash Raj sources, No one wants to touch a single frame of the film. Earlier Aditya Chopra was in charge of the romantic portions of the film. But now, No one wants to tamper with the Vision of the legendary Film Maker.
Same sources also adds "There's lot more which is remaining. Some patch works, Some re-edits as the time left for release is hardly a month." The film is said to be in the duration of 3 Hours. Trade and Media also buzzes the film is a kind of Yash Chopra's yesteryear classic 'Daag' starring Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore. 

It is said the song was supposed to be as intensely romantic as Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai from Yash Chopra's Daag. It was to be shot in the snowfall capturing the desperate romance between Shah Rukh and Katrina Kaif. 

Late Yash Chopra had a grand vision of a sari-clad Katrina Kaif romancing Shah Rukh Khan in the lush meadows of the Swiss Alps.

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Yashji was supposed to visit Chennai for a song from Rahman

Kamal Haasan met the doyen of the Hindi film industry Yash Chopra a few weeks before the latter's passing away. 

And then I hear he's gone! says the actor, shocked beyond words. `This is no way to go. We met frequently. I met him for the last time three weeks ago. He was as enthusiastic as ever, though self admittedly he was feeling weak. I asked him why. 

His eyes twinkled like a child and he said, 'When you reach 32 you can't have the same energy level as when you are 19. ' We laughed heartily at that one. Yashji's 80 years sat really comfortably on his shoulders. He never felt the weight of being THE Yash Chopra. 

He was in love with cinema. Not with its trappings. In that sense we were similar. When we met we were both like kids in a toystore staring at all the goodies around us. There was so much to imbibe, so much to do.

What Kamal Haasan found the most endearing about the architect of the Yash Raj empire was his simplicity. The sense of wonderment never left Yashji, no matter how much older he got he still had the same enthusiasm level every time we met.

When we met last he told me about how he would meet in Chennai next for a song that A R Rahman was supposed to give him for his new film. That was never meant to be. 
Many times Yash Chopra and Kamal Haasan came close to cracking an idea they could work on. Don't ask me why we never worked together until now. We were too busy discussing ideas to actually get down to doing anything concrete. 

I've no regrets about not working with him. Just spending time discussing ideas with him was an experience worth treasuring. Even at 80 when I met him for the last time he was wonder-struck by the marvel of the motion-picture technique, of what magic it could do. 

Every time he liked something I said he would lean over like a schoolboy with that look which said, 'Really? We can actually do that? ' I'll miss that unconditional sense of pleasure in the existence of cinema during my visits to Mumbai.

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Yash Chopra's death spurs BMC to fumigate all film studios

Under fire from various quarters after legendary film-maker Yash Chopra died from dengue, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will approach all private studios for entry to fumigate the premises against mosquitoes, a civic health official said Monday.

There are around two dozen big and small private film studios in Mumbai spread over huge properties, said the official who declined to be identified.

"Despite our best efforts, they refused permission in the past to our teams to carry out fumigation in their studios, ostensibly since they wanted to avoid the smell and disturbances in shooting schedules," the official told.

However, after Chopra's death, the BMC will send notices to all private studios seeking entry into the premises for fumigation, which can take a few hours.

"We hope to complete the fumigation of all the studios within a week or so and expect the cooperation of the studio owners/managements," the official said.

During the current mosquito breeding season which starts during monsoon, Mumbai has seen four deaths, including of Chopra, due to dengue, which is spread by mosquitoes.

Besides, 157 dengue patients are currently undergoing treatment at various government and private hospitals across the city.

The health official said that last year, to arrest dengue cases and minimise mosquito hazards, the BMC had taken special permission to enter and fumigate all the private mill lands and all the railway yards in Mumbai where mosquitoes breed unhindered.

"The dengue-spreading mosquito breeds only in clean water and lot of water used to get accumulated in mill lands, railway yards and, now we suspect, even in the film studios. So we have decided to fumigate all the studios," he added.

As a precautionary measure, the BMC will advise all the private studios to regularly undertake fumigation at their own cost whenever they notice mosquitoes on their premises.

Some of the studios used for film-making in Mumbai include RK, Filmistan, Filmalaya, Mehboob, usually spread between 150,000 to 225,000 square feet.

In addition to these, there are many smaller studios which have cropped up in Mumbai for shooting of television serials and commercials.

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Conversations with Yash Chopra over the years

From Dhool Ka Phool in 1959 to Veer-Zaara in 2004, your cinema epitomizes romance in Hindi films. 
We've tried our best. People talk about the romantic aura in our films. Aura aise hi ban jata hai. It's a process on which I've no control. If people expect Veer-Zaara to be the ultimate romantic fable it could be because I'm directing a film after seven years. The curiosity for the film kept growing till the last minute because we couldn't decide a title. 

Again, that wasn't intentional. People's expectations make me tense and nervous. Will I be able to live up to them? After all these years I get as anxious and insecure about a release as I did when I made my first film. With every film my responsibility towards my audience and my banner increases. 

If for any avaricious reason I betray my audience, they'll never forgive me. And to compound my anxieties Veer-Zaara is being released along with Mughal-e-Azam one of the all-time great romantic films which I've watched so many times...

Actually I had finalized another idea when my son Aditya suggested I make an earthy very Indian film. That's how Veer-Zaara was born. We finished the film within one year. 

When did your romance with romance begin? 
If you go back to my first film Dhool Ka Phool, you'll see a lot of love scenes in it. The film was about an illegitimate child. And children, as you well know, aren't born out of thin air. After I wrote my love scenes in Dhool Ka Phool I became hooked to them. I remember in Dhool Ka Phool there was a sequence where a man and woman on different bicycles fell on each other. 

The censors asked me to delete the scene. Today men and women are falling over each other for no reason. No one raises an eyebrow. When I think of a love scene I don't calculate how much should be exposed or which angle to capture the lead pair in. 

It should come from the heart. Otherwise it looks fake. People should connect with the romantic emotion. Not one member of any Indian family would be embarrassed by the love scenes in Veer-Zaara. I'm very happy with what I've done in not just Veer-Zaara, but most of my films. 


During the mid-1970s you made a series of action films like Trishul, Kala Patthar and Deewar. 
Shall I tell you one thing? Deewaar which is considered one of the most successful action films had only one fight sequence! It was the mother-son emotions that saw the film to its success. Yes Trishul and Kala Patthar were action films. Those subjects came to me and I liked them. 

Thereafter I had a series of romantic failures like Vijay, Parampara and Faasle. Then one day I was driving down to town from my home in suburbs of Mumbai. Every hoarding that I saw had men holding guns in their hands. I realized I was losing my way. I believed in romantic films, so why wasn't I making them? That's how I made Chandni. 

When I was asked about the film's highlights I said the songs are the highlights. When a distributor saw Vinod Khanna in a romantic role he left my film! When it was released people predicted it would flop in week. But its success reaffirmed my faith in my vision and my audience. That faith has stood by me all these years. 

What do you think of the way love and romance are portrayed today? 
I think we've gone overboard. What we see in today's films isn't romance. Love is a very intimate and personal emotion. Our audiences have been exposed to every possible culture and experience on television. In the last 2-3 years our films haven't been doing well. In desperation, filmmakers have turned murder sex and nudity into formulas. 

I firmly believe Indian audiences go for strong story Indian values. That's the only formula that will last. By showing skin you can't get your film to make a long-lasting impact. It's a passing phase. When I made Silsila and Lamhe in 1989 and 1991 people said they were premature creations. 

When I'm pregnant with an idea I have let it be delivered in its natural course. For some reason my two `neglected children` Silsila and Lamhe remain my favourites. I'm specially proud of Lamhe. I don't know why it didn't succeed at the boxoffice, maybe it was ahead of its time. But it got me the biggest critical acclaim of my career. 

Silsila was the first film on extra-marital relations to have broken the barriers between offbeat and mainstream cinema. Some films are destined to succeed in retrospect. This was the case with Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool. On release it was a disaster. Today it's a classic. Our business may be called showbiz. But we owe more to society than mere entertainment. 

We have to make films that would wean audiences away from their mindsets regarding cinematic entertainment. When I look back on my career, I feel God has been kind to me. Of course I worked hard to get where I am. But more than that, there's a power that has got me here


You've always been a pioneer and pathbreaker!
Maybe. But I feel so confident and elated. I feel enthused to better my work. The entire atmosphere around me seems more alive and inspiring. As for my work, the moment something excites me I go and make it. 

People told me I made Silsila and Lamhe prematurely. When I'm pregnant with an idea I have let it be delivered in its natural course. Our business may be called showbiz. But we owe more to society than mere entertainment. 

We have to make films that would wean audiences away from their mindsets regarding cinematic entertainment. When I look back on my career, I feel God has been kind to me. Of course I worked hard to get where I am. But more than that, there's a power that has got me here. 

Which of your films are you the proudest of? 
I don't make any film that I don't believe in. But sometimes a film that you believe in doesn't get the love and affection from the audience that you hoped for.

Then that becomes your favourite child. From my first film Dhool Ka Phool which I made for my brother, to my first film as a producer Daag, to Deewaar, Trishul, Chandni, Dil To Pagal Hai.... all my films are important to me. But for some reason my two `neglected children` Silsila and Lamhe remain my favourites. 

I'm specially proud of Lamhe. I don't know why it didn't succeed at the boxoffice, maybe it was ahead of its time. But it got me the biggest critical acclaim of my career. Silsila was the first film on extra-marital relations to have broken the barriers between offbeat and mainstream cinema.

Some films are destined to succeed in retrospect. This was the case with Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool. On release it was a disaster. Today it's a classic. 


Many of your critics say your cinema is insulated against reality? 
I don't agree. Whether it's arranged marriages, man's battle with the machine age, corruption in the public sector...they're all there in my films. My 1960s' hit Waqt is considered an escapist entertainer. But it was actually a film about man's destiny and how it cannot be controlled.

In recent times social content including patriotism has become a formula. The man on the street has become blase about corruption. I decided to make films on the one theme that can never get outdated, namely human emotions and human relationships. 

Somewhere there's a love story unfolding at every given point. I decided to give a new twist to the emotion called love in my films. If I can touch even one person's heart in any corner of the world I'm a happy filmmaker. Whether laughing or crying audiences should feel good while watching my films. 

As for social content my very first film Dharamputra in 1961 addressed itself to the sensitive issue of communal relations. It sparked off disputes between Hindus and Muslims. Theatres were threatened with bomb scares. 

To assure that nothing went wrong my film's leading man Shashi Kapoor, my friend Deven Verma and I personally attended the first show at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir. Such gestures went a long way in building a bond between the Yash Chopra banner and the distributors-exhibitors. 

Do you get scared by audiences' expectations? 
At that time I was judged as B. R. Chopra's younger brother. Then in 1973 I was again nervous as a school-boy during first day of school when I branched out on my own to produce and direct Daag. I knew I was doomed if it failed.

I remember the first trial show 12 days before release. People praised me. But I could see the hesitation about the controversial subject-a man with two wives. And my leading man Rajesh Khanna had as many as 8 flops prior to Daag. But to my relief, the film was a superhit on the first day. 

God has continued to be on my side. Now I'm scared about Veer-Zaara. I don't know what expectations people have from me! 


You share a very special rapport with her? 
Lataji has always been so kind to me. She can never say no to me. As long as I am there and she's there she'll continue to sing for my films. And if we're creating history in Veer-Zaara by reviving the melodies of Madan Mohan 30 years after his death, how can she not be there? And she's sung like an angel.

That a lady of 75 can sing like this is unbelievable. Unhone hamari jaan nikal lee. Wohlog khush-naseeb hain jinhe Lataji ke saath aaj bhi kaam karne ka saubhagya mil raha hai. People call her an avatar of Goddess Saraswati. When others sing they follow music, but when she sings, music follows her. I truly believe that.

When she sang for Dhool Ka Phool the first film I directed, I was in awe of her. Today I'm much closer to her. But the awe remains. I'm a very small player in the story of the Indian film industry.

She's given so much more. Today the two of us have come together with lyricist Javed Akhtar to pay a homage to one of our greatest music composers. 

How do you explain the immense success of your productions like Hum Tum and Dhoom which you don't direct? 
That's my son Aditya Chopra's domain. He handles the creative side of our productions. I handle the financial aspect. When Aditya or I make film then we discuss everything in detail. But a film like Dhoom is orchestrated entirely by him. Being a romantic film Hum Tum wasn't so costly. But Dhoom being an action film was very expensive. 

We had to import 8-9 mo'bikes. Australian stuntmen participated.... Production costs shot back. But when I saw the end-product I knew it was going to be successful. I never thought it'd be this successful. 

Without major stars-Abhishek, John Abraham, Esha Deol and my younger son Uday aren't really big stars--- the film is doing unbelievable business. I think Dhoom worked for its young international look. Though I'm the producer I don't have anything to do with Dhoom 's creativity. 


And yet in the 1970s you made action films like Deewar, Kala Patthar and Trishul? 
Those subjects came to me and I liked them. But thereafter I had a series of failures like Vijay, Parampara and Faasle. Then one day I was driving down to town from my home in suburbs of Mumbai. Every hoarding that I saw had men holding guns in their hands.

I realized I was losing my way. I believed in romantic films, so why wasn't I making them? That's how I made Chandni. When I was asked about the film's highlights I said the songs are the highlights. 

When a distributor saw Vinod Khanna in a romantic role he left my film! When it was released people predicted it would flop in week. But its success reaffirmed my faith in my vision and my audience. That faith has stood by me all these years. 

What do you feel about the films being made these days? 
We're making all kinds of films-English, Hinglish, sex, horror..... this and that. It's a healthy trend. But for a film to run it has to have Indian values. For a film to be a blockbuster it has to be rooted to our culture. 

Many of your critics say your cinema is insulated against reality? 
I don't agree. Whether it's arranged marriages, man's battle with the machine age, corruption in the public sector...they're all there in my films. My 1960s' hit Waqt is considered an escapist entertainer. But it was actually a film about man's destiny and how it cannot be controlled.

In recent times social content including patriotism has become a formula. The man on the street has become blase about corruption. I decided to make films on the one theme that can never get outdated, namely human emotions and human relationships. 

Somewhere there's a love story unfolding at every given point. I decided to give a new twist to the emotion called love in my films. If I can touch even one person's heart in any corner of the world I'm a happy filmmaker. Whether laughing or crying audiences should feel good while watching my films.

As for social content my very first film Dharamputra in 1961 addressed itself to the sensitive issue of communal relations. It sparked off disputes between Hindus and Muslims. Theatres were threatened with bomb scares. 

To assure that nothing went wrong my film's leading man Shashi Kapoor, my friend Deven Verma and I personally attended the first show at Mumbai's Maratha Mandir. Such gestures went a long way in building a bond between the Yash Chopra banner and the distributors-exhibitors. 


How do you explain the long-running success of DDLJ? 
There're some phenomena which defy explanation. How do you explain Lataji's voice? How do you explain the fact that at 75 she sang like an angel in my Veer-Zara? Dilwale... is another miracle. Bhagwan ki kripa hai. I don't deserve the success I've got. Yes, Dilwale...has broken all records to become the most successful Indian film ever. In 20 weeks it'll be completing ten years. 

How do you explain that? 
When it completed 200 weeks I though we had had our innings. But DDLJ kept growing. Now after 500 weeks the general-manager of Maratha Mandir tells me it can easily go on for six more months. It still goes houseful during weekends! Aditya was only 23 when he made DDLJ. 

I still remember the first time when he narrated the story to me. I had tears in my eyes for two reasons. Firstly, it was because my son had written it. And secondly because it was such a heartwarming story. I knew it was going to be a hit film. But to this extent? ! Never. It touched a chord in Indians all over the world. 

It prompted them to go back to their country, traditions and roots. DDLJ was the first romance where the boy takes the girl away only with the parents' consent. The whole process of winning over the girl's family was unique. 

How do you rationalize its continuing success after so many years? 
Log pagal nahin hain jo roz DDLJ dekhne jaate hain. Adi ne dil se banayee yeh picture. I feel the films being made today have no heart. Most of them are superficial in content. I was amazed by the depth and emotions in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black. 

To my pride Yashraj Films has the privilege of distributing this unique film overseas. Hats of to Sanjay for his conviction courage and confidence. He never thought of what money it would make. He did what came naturally to him. Black is a rarity today. 


Did you have an inkling of DDLJ's success? 
The first time I really realized the film's potential was when we took the print to Prasad Lab in Chennai to record the Dolby sound. The technicians there asked me to dub it in Telugu. I did so. It was super hit in Telugu. Never in my life have I seen such reactions to any film. It became a landmark thanks to my son's honest and sincere effort. 

It's also become a liability for Aditya. 
Yes, it has become a benchmark for him. He can't make DDLJ again, though I'm sure he'll always make good films. But success cannot be guaranteed...Would you believe Shah Rukh was at first hesitant to do DDLJ? 

Are you serious? 
Yes, he didn't want to do more mushy romance. Adi convinced him. He predicted that every viewer from the age of 6 to 80 will love him after DDLL. Sure enough his fan-following multiplied manifold. Every member of the cast was perfect. I remember the late lyricist Anand Bakshi saying, 'Even if Adi puts half of his ideas on screen he'll make a historic hit. '


I remember after the release you told me you had never seen so much money in your life. 
It's true. DDLJ has done many things for me. It has helped us to realize so many of our dreams. When I came to realize that distributors aren't quite upfront in their dealings I decided to become my own distributor. 

For the first time we saw big money. I asked my son what he wanted. He said he wanted that we should've our own studio. Today we're ready to open our own state-of-the-art studio, thanks to DDLJ. 

How important is marketing for a movie? 
Very important. But you can't sell a product that the audience doesn't want. Out of the 150-200 films being released per year the audience chooses to go to theatres for 10.

You've to make sure you bring the audiences in to see those 10 films through promotion and marketing. Word-of-mouth publicity is a myth. The only recent film that ran by this method was my elder brother B. R. Chopra's Baghban. It was such a brilliant subject. My brother lived with the idea for twenty years. 

Today Yashraj is the largest filmmaking empire in the country. 
It's a scary thing. We try to make the films that we believe in. Every Friday a new destiny is chalked out for some filmmakers, not just in India but all over the world. The cinema business has become unpredictable. All we can do is work with sincerity. 


There has been almost cent-percent success for Yashraj Films in recent years? 
More than hard work, it's God's blessings. Of course every director works very very hard. But I believe there's a power above hard work. Look at Lataji. Why do you think she's a legend beyond all human definition? She's my sister and I'm so proud of her. Even at 75 she has sung perfectly for me in Veer-Zara and gave the songs emotions that are unimaginable. 

Yeh agar bhagwan ki kripa nahin hai to aur kya hai? That's why I say she's one singer who doesn't follow music, music follows her. When I see her I feel very small and humbled. There're no words to describe her. She's truly the Bharat Ratna. I'm blessed to have her love. 

You are as unspoilt as she is. 
You are right. I never planned any of the things that happened to me. They kept happening one after another. It's all God's blessing.

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Yash Chopra had to shoot Katrina in chiffon sari

Yash Chopra's final shot for his last directorial "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" was a song with Katrina Kaif in a chiffon sari at his favourite location - the Swiss Alps, reveals designer Manish Malhotra.

"We were to go to the Swiss Alps to shoot a song with Katrina (Kaif) in chiffon saris. He discussed the saris with passion and used to tell me that 'I want you to be there at the shoot'," tweeted Malhotra.

Chopra breathed his last here Sunday evening following multi-organ failure. He had almost completed the shooting of "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" with one of his favourite actors Shah Rukh Khan.

The movie, which will release on the auspicious occasion of Diwali Nov 13, also features Katrina and Anushka Sharma in key roles.

Earlier, there were speculations about who among the two ladies would be seen in the chiffon sari, a trademark of many Yash Chopra films.

Malhotra, who gave his contemporary touch to the looks of Chopra's actresses in films like "Dil To Pagal Hai" and "Veer-Zaara", says he would miss him immensely.

"I will truly miss my most favourite director and incredible person that Yashji was... I knew him closely and have seen his passion for cinema, colours and costumes. Romance in Indian cinema won't be the same without Yashji," he wrote.

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A song that was to be shot in Switzerland

Filmmaker Yash Chopra, who passed away this evening, had finished shooting his last directorial venture 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', except for a song

And the song was to be shot in Switzerland, a country whose scenic beauty has been the backdrop of so many of Chopra's films.

He was slated to travel to Switzerland this month, when dengue fever forced him to get admitted to a hospital here on October 13. The song would be now either shot by Chopra's elder son Aditya, or it won't be shot at all, sources close to the filmmaker said.

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Yash Chopra didn't compromise on ethics: Javed Akhtar

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, who worked with Yash Chopra as a writer in blockbuster films like "Deewar", "Trishul" and "Kaala Pathar", says the filmmaker never compromised on his ethics.

"The dialogues in his movies itself had literary values. One thing was highly appreciable about him was that in the 1980s, which was called the dark era of cinema...he took the challenge without compromising on his ethics, " Akhtar said on Times Now channel.

Javed Akhtar's wife and veteran actress Shabana Azmi also expressed grief over Chopra's sudden demise.

"Yash Chopra will be remembered because he made cinema he believed in. There was never a single indecent word in his movie. He has had such a long innings, " she said.

Chopra passed away Sunday evening at the Lilavati Hospital following multiple organ failure. He was suffering dengue the past few days. He was 80.

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