Chandigarh, October 21
He gave India its collective sense of romance and music, stretching from the mustard fields of Punjab to the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland. As he turned 80 on September 27, plans were announced to release his 22nd directorial in 54 years -- ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’.

The evergreen film director who taught generations of Indians how to celebrate love in the drudgery of life through his cinematic exploration of the subject in different shades, created a fool-proof success formula for the most unpredictable film industry of Bollywood.

Born in Lahore on September 27, 1932, Chopra began his career as an assistant director to IS Johar and his elder brother BR Chopra. He made his directorial debut with ‘Dhool Ka Phool’ in 1959 and followed it with the hard-hitting social drama ‘Dharmputra’ (1961). Encouraged by the success of both the films, the Chopra brothers made several other movies together during the late fifties and sixties, most notable being ‘Waqt’ (1965) and ‘Ittefaq’ (1969). In 1973, the Chopra brothers separated, and Yash Chopra founded his studio the Yash Raj Films to launch it with ‘Daag: A poem of love’ (1973), which again turned out to be a success.

He then entered one of his best phases of film direction with two Amitabh Bachchan classics: ‘Deewar’ (1975) and ‘Kabhi Kabhie’ (1976). These movies established Bachchan as the greatest Indian film star of all times. Though his much talked about romantic musicals ‘Silsila’ (1981) and ‘Faasle’ (1985) did not do well at the box office, they received critical acclaim. He made another love triangle ‘Chandni’ (1989). Then came what critics and Chopra himself considered his best film ‘Lamhe’ (1991), a film about cross-generational love.

Chopra made ‘Darr’ in 1993 and launched another superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, who remained a constant with the Yash Chopra banner. In 1995, Chopra turned to production. Chopra used Lata Mangeshkar’s voice for playback in films like ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ and ‘Veer Zaara’, which he directed after a long gap in 2004. He believed you need to be young at heart and a bit crazy to be a true romantic, which he remained till his death.

Chopra married Pamela in 1970 and they have two sons film director Aditya Chopra and actor Uday Chopra. He was on the Advisory Board of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry of the Government of India and the Founder-Trustee of the Film Industry Welfare Trust established in 1996. He was also the Vice-President of the Film Producers' Guild of India since the past 10 years.

Chopra is the only Indian film producer and director to receive the BBC Asia Awards twice - in 1998 and 2001 for his outstanding contribution to Hindi cinema. 

My mornings will never be the same. My learnings of life will never be the same. Love never be the same. And cinema will never be the same.
— Anupam Kher

He had an aesthetic talent to make his films look larger than life. His flourish in essaying romance and social drama was unmatched. Mr Chopra established the popularity of Indian cinema internationally.
— Manmohan Singh

Yash Chopra was like a brother to me. His filmmaking had a unique style and musically they used to be a hit. His music never used to fade.
— Lata Mangeshkar

Just got the news that Yashji passed on. He was one of the giants of cinema. My deepest condolences to his family. We will all miss him.
— Madhuri Dixit-Nene

Shattering, hard to accept. Yash was more than a friend, a brother. I am numb and have no words to express my grief.
— Dilip Kumar

Yashji saw one of my concerts in London. I think may be he felt that I should be in his film (‘Jab Tak Hain Jaan’). It was a great honour for me because I had not worked with him. My whole Hindi film career is now complete.
— AR Rahman

Jalandhar, October 21
Grief-stricken Jalandharis remember the cooperative and polite nature of its son Yash Chopra who had spent the prime of his life at the Mohalla Gobindgarh near the railway station here.