Mumbai Mirror Bureau (November 13, 2014)

Pic 1: File photo of Ravi Chopra with his father BR Chopra

Pic 2: The ambulance carrying Chopra's body exits Breach Candy hospital

Pic 3: Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor at the hospital

Pic 4, 5, 6: Arrivals at the Chopras' Juhu home included Aditya Chopra-Rani Mukerji and Ranbir and Katrina Kaif
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Ravi Chopra (27 September 1946 - 12 November 2014)

Filmmaker Ravi Chopra passed away on Wednesday afternoon after a long bout of ill health. He was 68.

The director of the iconic TV series Mahabharat and films like Baghban and The Burning Train was admitted to Breach Candy hospital a week ago to seek treatment for a chronic lung ailment.

"He passed away at 3.35 p.m. His funeral will take place today (Thursday) at 11 am at the Pavan Hans crematorium in Juhu," said a source close to the family.

The son of veteran filmmaker B.R Chopra and nephew of Yash Chopra, Ravi started his career as an assistant on the sets of the 1969 crime thriller Ittefaq starring Rajesh Khanna and Nanda.

He learnt under the tutelage of his legendary uncle and father and made his own directorial debut with the Amitabh Bachchan film Zameer. The dacoit drama which mixed revenge and romance was first among the many entertainers that he gave to the public.

Chopra served as an associate producer in some of the best known BR releases of the '80s including Nikaah and Insaaf Ka Taraazu. It was in the same decade that he took the small screen by storm with his adaptation of the Hindu epic Mahabharat. The series which was broadcast between 1988 and 1990, still remains a standard for popularity and famously became a hit in the UK too when BBC telecast it in the '90s.

The next decade again saw Ravi become a family favourite with the 2003 release Baghban, the Amitabh Bachchan-Hema Malini starrer which preached lessons of family and love. Chopra tried the formula again but with less success in Baabul, which also became his last directorial.

Chopra's last few years were spent in hospitals as a worsened lung infection took its toll and the filmmaker had not been seen in public for a long time.

Aditya Chopra, Rani Mukerji, Hema Malini, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Arjun Kapoor and Varun Dhawan were among those who gathered at the Chopras' Juhu home to pay their last respects to the filmmaker.
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Hema Malini
The actress worked with the filmmaker on The Burning Train (1980), Baghban (2003) and Baabul (2006)
"He was a beautiful man without any complexities. Even on sets, he was always playful and cracked a joke at the drop of a hat. Working with him was like a dream. My favourite film of his remains Baghban, it was straight from the heart."

Raj Babbar
The actor got his big break in Insaaf Ka Tarazu which was produced by B.R Films "I'm shattered. My parents gave me birth, but the Chopras gave me a name and an identity. I shared a unique relationship with him. How could he pass away? He was health conscious, wouldn't smoke or drink and exercised after work. If that man can be reduced to such bad health, I don't see any purpose in life."

Rati Agnihotri
The actress, who was shooting for a film in Punjab, was devastated when we got in touch with her. She was a close friend of Ravi's, and her role in BR Chopra's Tawaif (1985) earned her critical acclaim.
"Our kids went to the same school ...and we kept in touch. His wife, Renu, is a brave lady and also a dear friend. I will always remember him as a man with a big smile on his face."

Bhushan Kumar
Bhushan Kumar remembers Ravi Chopra as a man who was fond of hot chocolate and fast cars.
"I was deeply attached to him. I stood by the family when nobody else did. Due to several troubles, his banner couldn't produce the films he wanted to make. Which is when I decided to extend support to Bhootnath Returns. I will miss him a lot."


- As told to Ankur Pathak
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MID-DAY (November 13, 2014)

Ravi Chopra, who had been ailing for the last few years, passed away yesterday. He was 68. The filmmaker had been away from the Bollywood scene for quite a while due to his ill- health. Son of late filmmaker BR Chopra and nephew of the late Yash Chopra, he had been diagnosed with a lung ailment. He is survived by his wife, Renu and sons, Kapil and Abhay.

Bollywood remembers him as a warm and genteel person, who, along with his wife, played gracious hosts at his films’ events and parties. Cheerful and affable, he was always willing to lend a helping hand to everyone. Even though he came from a leading film family, his humility was what set him apart from the rest.

Says Simi Garewal, who worked with him in The Burning Train, “He was such a fabulous person. It is sad what he had to go through. He is finally relieved of the pain.” Actor Aman Varma remembers Chopra as “one of the finest human beings” he has ever known. “I did three films, six shows and 10 ad films with him. He would make everyone comfortable. We used to feel that we had come to dine at his place and were working in between.”

Chopra’s directorial debut was Zameer (1975) starring Amitabh Bachchan and Saira Banu. He directed the iconic television serial, Mahabharat, which aired during 1988- 1990. He also directed mythological shows like Vishnu Puran and Ma Shakti. His last B-Town outing as producer-director was Baabul in 2006. The film starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in stellar roles dealt with the issue of widow remarriage.

Like his father, he was keen to highlight social issues on the big screen. His 2003 film Baghban with Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini revolved around the problems faced by aging parents. Post 2006, Chopra produced Bhoothnath and Bhoothnath Returns featuring Big B.