Legendary filmmaker, Yash Chopra, also known as the ‘king of romance’, who succumbed to dengue and multiple organ failure on Sunday evening, has been cremated.
Son Aditya, Uday and actress Rani Mukerji were seen standing in front of the stage with moist eyes, while the family members and those from film fraternity were seen sitting behind. Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, son Ranbir, Randhir Kapoor, Archana Puran Singh and husband Parmeet Sethi, Punit Malhotra and Varun Dhawan were also seen offering tributes to the ‘King of Romance’.
Amitabh Bachan:
“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,” Amitabh wrote on his blog srbachchan.com. “As I sit beside his still and flower-decked body in his studio within the portals of the large common patio, there does not pass a moment when all that we shared flashes by. This colossal studio that he built after years of hard work and labour, shall for the next day, house his last physical remain. “I doubt if he had ever dreamt that this unique and most distinguished facility would find space to accommodate him in the state that we see him today,” he added.
Waheeda Rehman:
There was a stunned silence on the phone line when I informed Lata Mangeshkar about her rakhibrother Yash Chopra’s death. “Just yesterday was my niece Varsha’s terahwa (the 13th day after death). Why is God testing me like this?” She paused and added, “Our birthdays are separated by a day. This year he sent me an idol of Mata Saraswati. He loved me like his sister. I feel like I’ve lost my brother.”
Vidya Balan:
Vidya said , “He was the most gracious person I have come across. He defined glamour for Indian audiences and his films always struck a chord. Few have been able to capture the hopeless complexity of the man -woman relationship like Yashji has.” Vidya fondly shared her memories of Yash uncle and expressed, “After the release of Kahaani, I got a call from an unknown London number, but I missed the call then got a message from Yashji ‘s number saying I’m trying to call you. I called back and he congratulated me saying I believe your film is doing very well. Congratulations!”
Asha Bhosle:
Asha Bhosle, 79, who associated with Chopra for movies like Chandni and Dil To Pagal Hai, took to Twitter to express her grief. “Just as I was getting over the grief of my daughter, my brother Yash Chopra bhaisaab has left me. Sad year,” she wrote.
Shah Rukh Khan:
“Whenever my loved ones depart, I feel a part of me extinguishes itself with them. Will there come a day that I will no longer have a bit of myself to let go of? And then the thought follows … that every time they have taken some of me with them onto their last journey, I have found a fragment of them left inside me too. “I will always have some love to give and I will always be both emptied and replenished by the loved ones I lose. I keep u with me Yashji and I miss u too Yashji … lots,” Shah Rukh posted on his Facebook page.
Shah Rukh was special for Chopra, who directed the actor in movies like Darr (1993), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) and Veer-Zaara (2004). Chopra’s last directorial Jab Tak Hai Jaan, which will hit the screens Nov 13, also features Shah Rukh. The actor was like family to him – sharing the joys and sorrows. No wonder he rushed to the Lilavati Hospital as soon as the news of Chopra’s death was announced.
Yash Chopra’s last directorial venture ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ could not see light of the day till he was alive. Still, hope remains alive in the heart of every avid YRF fan that the tradition of delivering high-quality cinema will never cease to exist at least jab tak hai jaan…