Amitabh Bachchan on Yash Chopra

Amitabh Bachchan who has worked with Yash Chopra in 5 films (Deewaar, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Kaala Patthar and Silsila) mourned the death of the legendary director.

On his Twitter page, the actor said “I never ever thought there would come a day when I would have to say – “Yash Chopra no more”.. He went away too soon!”

“Yash Chopra – 44 years of association .. of creativity, friendship, fun and family ties .. each moment so vivid even now .. gone !!”

“Just back from his studio where he lies still and motionless.. this was the first time I ever saw him on his back in 44 yrs!!”

“They have all gone one by one… no one of substance left to recreate those days when he started.. energy, verve, passion… It was his domain”

Amitabh Bachchan’s Blog Post

Amitabh Bachchan - Yash CHopra

Picture: Yash Chopra at Amitabh Bachchan’s Birthday party on October 10th

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 evening in the late hours.

I last saw him, as do you from the pictures above, on my birthday celebrations. He was indisposed and the doctors advised him rest, but he was insistent on coming over. He had made a commitment he said. He had been asked to speak, one among four others that did that evening, over the sit down dinner. His words still ring in my ear and what remains are the resonance of his goodness and feeling that he exuded towards me. Apart from his praise on my work, what he cherished most, was that I had been a good son and above all a good human being. Not many have made such observation. It was a moving tribute.

It was his last public speech and appearance. The pictures you see above are his last visuals. His whispered words, the last he made to me, at the 10th October celebrations for my birthday. The visuals that one shall see tomorrow will be his last before the cremation, those that he shall never know of.

His breathe has gone and all that shall remain will be that which he gave life to – his creativity, his emotion, his poetry on film and above all his humanity.

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 labor, 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 accomodate him in the state that we see him today.

When he broke away from working with his brother the distinguished BR Chopra, another institution of eminence, he started his independent work from a small 6×10 little dress and property storage room in the great V Shantaram’s RajKamal studios. Two simple desks occupied the cramped space. He sat on one. His accountant on the other. Paper work, posters, at times dresses for the artists of his film were stored within that room. He and I would spend hours in that little space talking film, scenes, stories, shooting issues and just a lot more. He rose from there by shear dint of his talent and hard work and built, in the most central commercial area of Mumbai, on acres of land, the most modern and well equipped studio that the film industry has seen to date. He did not just sell beautiful dreams, he created them too in reality. From an ordinary apartment in a high rise in Pali Hill, he created his own home in Juhu, a minute away from mine. The times spent there, the wonderful and fun filled evenings, the sessions of story and music in his ‘gadda room’, the Holi celebrations, the rich events which gathered eminent artists, the sumptuous meals that he and his wife Pamela cooked for us … just such a vast collection of memories …

I have just one regret with regard to him. For some months lately, he had been calling and telling me to drop by in the early hours of the morning as I returned from the gym for ‘just a chat – no work, no issues, just a chat’. I had promised him that I would, and I never was able to.

As I sit back in his remembrance I wonder if this was another premonition that he may have had of his departure. Of his limited time …

My mind is filled with hundreds of private and personal moments that we all spent together during this large association with him. They shall ever remain stored within us and like all other memories shall give value and belief to what we shared together ….

The greatness of those that dwell in the world of film is that they shall ever leave behind a legacy of their work, talent and creativity, but very few shall be privy to the pain and joy of personal accomplishment … or … who knows … perhaps the legacy may have already been documented ….

Yash ji, your contribution to the millions that had the privilege to witness your creativity shall be immortal … may we all savour it till our end …

Advertisements

8 Comments

  • we are not going to forget u yashji.
    we’ll remember the contribution in the hindi film industry and we will also remember when watching ur movies………

  • Many would have written off Mr. Bachchan post debacle of suryavansham, major saab & mrityudata but than something was brewing in his mind, he called Mr. Yash Chopra and ask to give him some work, the very next day Aditya Chopra called him and offer him a role of strict & disciplined old principal in mohabattein. It was of gr8 risk for Mr. Bachchan as till that time he had never done character roles but he accepted the movie as a challange and that proved to be a game changer for him & the rest is the history. He chooses Amitabh bachchan for a variety of roles and only thing that remains through out their long association is Amitabh’s intensity in each of them. His performance in deewar is still reknowned as a master stroke in indian cinematic history, who can forget his portrayal of angry young man in Chopra’s trishul,kaala pathar, while he was equally afectionate as an intense lover in Silsila, kabhie kabhie. Such was their relationship that bachchan happily does a small cameo in veer zaara for chopra only and still he manage to bring the life in that character such was his charisma. hats off to the legend of hindi cinema, there r many but there is none like you and we will definitely miss u sir.

  • Many would have written off Mr. Bachchan post debacle of suryavansham, major saab & mrityudata but than something was brewing in his mind, he called Mr. Yash Chopra and ask to give him some work, the very next day Aditya Chopra called him and offer him a role of strict & disciplined old principal in mohabattein. It was of gr8 risk for Mr. Bachchan as till that time he had never done character roles but he accepted the movie as a challange and that proved to be a game changer for him & the rest is the history. He chooses Amitabh bachchan for a variety of roles and only thing that remains through out their long association is Amitabh’s intensity in each of them. His performance in deewar is still reknowned as a master stroke in indian cinematic history, who can forget his portrayal of angry young man in Chopra’s trishul,kaala pathar, while he was equally afectionate as an intense lover in Silsila, kabhie kabhie. Such was their relationship that bachchan happily does a small cameo in veer zaara for chopra only and still he manage to bring the life in that character such was his charisma. hats off to the legend of hindi cinema, there r many but there is none like mr. yash chopra.

  • Just wanted to say rest in peace Mr Chopra your movies brought a great deal of joy not only to the Indian community world wide but to many non Indians too . My little sister (a self professed expert in Indian movies) had a funny habit when we first started watching Hindi movies, if an Indian movie didnt start with the Yash raj banner she wouldnt buy it let alone watch it and she discouraged everyone else too, it was only later on that we had the confidence to try out movies not from the Yashraj studios but only after we had seen the leading actor in a Yashraj film, Lol. So thanks Mr Chopra you meant a lot to a 12 year girl in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa who doesnt understand a word of Hindi (except the few she picked up in your movies!)

Leave a Comment