In memoriam: Yash Chopra would have been 81 today
Director Yash Chopra, who died of multiple-organ failure in Mumbai on October 21 last year, would have been 81 today. In his five decade long journey in Bollywood, Yashji directed 22 films including Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zara and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. All turned out to be mega-hits. From actors romancing their sweethearts on the Swiss Alps to dancing on train tops to walking on Zurich's cobbled streets, Yash Chopra's films were a romantic's delight.
Here's a pictorial look at his journey on his 81st birth anniversary.
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Director Yash Chopra, who died of multiple-organ failure in Mumbai on October 21 last year, would have been 81 today. In his five decade long journey in Bollywood, Yashji directed 22 films including Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zara and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. All turned out to be mega-hits. From song sequences shot in the Swiss Alps to dancing on train tops to walking on Zurich's cobbled streets, Yash Chopra's films were a romantic's delight.
Here's a pictorial look at his journey on his 81st birth anniversary. -
Yash Chopra was born on September 27, 1932 in Lahore. He was the youngest of eight children and, like his elder brother B R Chopra, he wanted to become a director and producer. Yash Chopra moved to India after partition and studied at Jalandhar's Doaba College. His plan was to go to London to study engineering, but cinema proved a stronger attraction.
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In 1965, Yash Chopra directed Waqt, produced by his elder brother, featuring Sunil Dutt, Shashi Kapoor, Raj Kumar, Sadhana and Sharmila Tagore. The movie became a hit and set the trend for ‘lost and found' films in Bollywood. It fetched Mr Chopra his first Filmfare award. Aye Meri Zohrajabeen picturised on Balraj Sahni and Achala Sachdev, and Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu were hit songs from the movie.
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In 1976, Mr Chopra founded Yash Raj Films (YRF), which meant that he could now independently produce the films he directed. Among his earliest successes with YRF was 1975's Deewar featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor and Parveen Babi. Deewar broke many stereotypes of that time and catapulted its cast and its director to the top of the box office charts. Deewar won Mr Chopra another Filmfare award. The film also established Amitabh Bachchan's angry young man's image. The iconic line mere paas maa hai from the film is still remembered even today.
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Despite Deewar's< enormous success, Yash Chopra began moving away from drama and action to romance, with 1976's Kabhi Kabhie. Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor once again came together for the film which also starred Waheeda Rehman, Neetu Singh, Rishi Kapoor and Raakhee. The movie was a huge hit. It followed up with Trishul(1978), Kaala Patthar (1979).
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In 1981, Yash Chopra pulled off what is acknowledged to be a casting coup of sorts with Silsila, starring Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya and Rekha. Rekha played the ‘other woman' in the movie, a role she was popularly believed to have assumed in real life as well.
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Yash Chopra's 22nd film as director, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma released on November 13 and was shot in the Kashmir valley. In an interview with Shah Rukh Khan on his 80th birthday last year, Yash Chopra had announced his retirement from directing saying that Jab Tak Hai Jaan, his 22nd film, would be his last one.
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Yash Chopra was posthumously conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for his services to the Indian film industry. Politician T Subbarami Reddy announced the National Yash Chopra Memorial Award in memory of the late filmmaker and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar will be the first awardee.
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The luxurious Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel in Interlaken has a suite named after Yash Chopra, and Jungfrau Railways has a Yash Chopra Train as part of the Jungfrau Railway network in Switzerland. He was honoured with by the Swiss authorities in 2011, naming him the "Ambassador of Interlaken". He was also felicitated with the Swiss Ambassador's Award in October 2010 for his contribution in promoting 'Brand Switzerland' through his movies.
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Today, Bollywood celebrates Yash Chopra's birth anniversary with a special function, organised by wife Pamela. Celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and Katrina Kaif will walk the ramp for a fashion show that will launch a Bollywood-inspired fashion label called Diva'ni. Yash Raj Films has also announced that they will co-finance a movie on legendary Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman.
