Farewell,Romance

With 53 years of experience in the industry and 22 films as director,Chopra has most likely directed the most number of successful films. However,it was surprising to learn that his parents wanted him to become an engineer. “My bhaisaab (brother,BR Chopra) was making films,but my parents sent me to Bombay to get my passport done so that I could go to England and study engineering.” Chopra chose to assist his brother instead. During his stint as an assistant director,he became friends with Meena Kumari. “I had written a poem for Meenaji and she,in turn,encouraged me to become an actor. I told her: ‘I speak so fast that my film will be very short’,” he recollects. While working on his brother B R Chopra’s Sadhna (1958),he got acquainted with its heroine Vyajayanthimala,who told him he had the focus of a director.

Soon,his brother gave him a chance to direct his first film,Dhool Ka Phool (1959). His biggest hit was the multi-starrer Waqt (1965),which was initially planned with Raj,Shammi and Shashi Kapoor. “I thought that would make the stories of three separated brothers very obvious. Hence,I chose to take Raaj Kumar,Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor for it.” While discussing the film,Khan and Chopra broke into an impromptu singing of Oh Meri Zohrajabeen. His marriage to Pamela,however,made him separate from his brother and start his own company YRF. “After marriage,I needed more money and I told my brother. Bhaisaab told me that I was on my own.”

Each of Chopra’s films is known for its poetry,scenic locales and romance. But what stood out were his unconventional stories. “I did not write romance,I wrote about human relationships which are most complex and make for the best stories.” The most interesting anecdote of the evening was when Khan asked Chopra how he managed to get Rekha and Jaya Bachchan together in Silsila,while the original casting had Smita Patil and Parveen Babi. “It was Amit (Amitabh Bachchan) who asked me if I was content with the casting. I told him I wanted to cast him,Jaya and Rekha. He took a long pause and told me that he was fine with the decision but asked me to convince the two actresses. When I met them,I had told both koi gadbad na ho,” he chuckled.

Khan,too,had an anecdote regarding Chopra to share. The actor had abandoned watching Lamhe in the theatre when he got a call saying that Chopra wanted to meet him and cast him in his forthcoming film. The movie was Darr that proved to be a turning point in Khan’s career. Chopra said,“After I met Shah Rukh,I did not look for any other actor,because he never asked me for the story nor a fee.” Khan also thanked him for pairing him opposite all the beautiful heroines and asked him why a heroine held so much importance in a Chopra film. “Women are beautiful. All I do is try to make them look even more beautiful.” Every actress worth her chiffon would agree.