Yash Chopra redefined romance, drama on screen

I worked with Ashok Kumar to Shahrukh Khan and Mala Sinha to Anushka Sharma in his over five-decade glorious cinematic journey, and the title of Yash Chopra's new film, "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" Summed up the ace filmmaker's philosophy - making path- breaking movies till I could.

His death came weeks before the Friday release of "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", Which Would Be Announced He Had His Last directorial venture. The romantic saga is coming out November 13th, but I will not be around to see it
Chopra, who turned 80 Sep 27, was born in Lahore in 1932 and came to Mumbai Eventually after Partition. In an interview some days before I was hospitalised with dengue, Shah Rukh Told Chopra: "My mother said do what your heart says. She gave me Rs.200 and said my blessings are with you. Go ahead and do not worry. "

Also I said whatever I was Because of his late brother and filmmaker BR Chopra, Whom I have assisted at the beginning of his Bollywood career.

"I'm sitting here just because of B.R. Chopra and no one else. I wanted to fly on my own wings, "That I said in interview.

I ADMITTED That it was not easy to start Yash Raj Films, his production house that has been delivering blockbuster hits, in 1971.

Yet, Chopra was one of the few directors to make two superhit films simultaneously - action drama "Deewar" (1975) and cross-generational romance "Kabhi Kabhie" (1976) - both PROVED his versatility and his hold on the pulse of audiences.

But, like all legendary directors, not one or two films can sum up Chopra's achievements.

To the world, Chopra was Known as the 'King of Romance', a well-deserved title after I created memorable love stories in "Daag", "Kabhi Kabhie", "Silsila", "Chandni", "Dil To Pagal Hai" , and "Veer Zaara". To keep up with Evolving audiences, have adapted new trends in each era and made MOST glamorous and trendy romances.

Like others, I too went through a bad patch after two of his films - "Faasle" (1985) and "Vijay" (1988) - one after the other bombed at the box office.

But after facing the setbacks, Chopra again triumphed at the box office with "Chandni".

"When I was making 'Vijay', I was making films just to be successful and not from my heart and I knew I was making the wrong kind of films. I Decided to make a hardcore romantic film with nine songs and this is how I thought of 'Chandni' (1989), "I had said in an interview eleven.

He went on to create a new-age romance for Gen Y with "Dil To Pagal Hai" (1997), a sleek, urban, romantic musical saga That reaped gold at the box office.

Then I made the cross-border romantic flick "Veer Zara" (2004) and was planing to hang up his boots after "Jab Tak Hai Jaan".

In his career, I have won many awards, Including the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001, six National Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards and was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2005.

Many of Chopra's romances used the beautiful alpine landscape of Switzerland. Chopra shot in Switzerland so many times That a lake in the Alpenrausch, a favorite spot of his shooting, has been christened Chopra Lake.

Not only That, I Became the first recipient of the title of Ambassador of Interlaken, and a special Yash Chopra Suite and Yash Chopra Train Were Inaugurated in his honor in Interlaken in 2011.

But Chopra's oeuvre was not just limited to romance and relationships. In his five decade-long career, I've experimented With All genres.

His first film "Dhool Ka Phool" in 1959 was the story of an illegitimate child being Hindu Brought up by a Muslim.

His next project, "Dharamputra" (1961) was another hard-hitting film on communal conflict, and was one of the first films to depict the Partition and Hindu fundamentalism. The film marked the debut of Shashi Kapoor in a full-fledged role and won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

A precedent-setter, Chopra's 1965 Critically successful drama "Waqt" pioneered the concept of multi-starters in Bollywood, while "Ittefaq" (1969) was a taut thriller, being the first Hindi films Which Did not Have Any songs or an interval.

Proving his versatility, on one hand Chopra directed intense dramas "Deewar", "Trishul", and "Mashaal", while on the other I made family sagas like "Parampara" and thrillers - "Kala Patthar" and "Darr".

Were His movies based on real life Sometimes tragedies. The Dec 27, 1975, accident in a coal mine near Dhanbad in Chasnala inspired the multi-starrer drama intense, "Kaala Patthar" starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha and Shashi Kapoor.

Chopra was one of the few filmmakers who created a cult Following for his actors - Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Sridevi - Gave audiences and evergreen songs. - IANS