When Pamela Chopra worried how son Aditya Chopra would manage after she’s gone: ‘Beta, God forbid…’

The famously reclusive Aditya Chopra gave his first-ever on-camera interview only this year, in the YRF-produced Netflix documentary series The Romantics, which also featured Pam herself. But for years, he was known for not allowing himself to be photographed, nor would he appear in public. In the same interview, Pam expressed concern for both her sons, for different reasons. Asked if Adi is a shy person, she said, “No, not at all, he is just media shy. Yash was a different kind of person. His PR was superb. If he liked someone, he would like him for life and would do anything for that person. If he disliked someone, he would never talk to that person. He had very strong likes and dislikes. But in a business environment, he was very good. He knew he should not show his dislike or become emotional. I used to always tell Adi, ‘Beta, God forbid, once we are gone, how will you manage? We have so many friends and have such good relationships.’ He would say, ‘Mom, aaj kal kya hain, paise do, sab kuch mil jata hain (These days, you get everything with money).'”

She was also asked about Uday’s failed acting career, and she said that she was ‘very happy’ got out of ‘the shadow of his father and brother’. She said, “Now that he is on his own, he is very happy and he is learning the ropes. Hollywood is a very cut-throat place. Yes. He was the only one at home, although I would get to see him only for five minutes whenever he wanted to see my face. He would come down…as I would say, descend from the heavens (laughs) to come and see me.”

In a statement on Thursday, YRF confirmed Pam’s passing, and wrote, “With heavy hearts, the Chopra family would like to inform that Pamela Chopra, 74, passed away this morning. Her cremation took place at 11 am in Mumbai. We are grateful for your prayers and the family would like to request for privacy in this deep moment of sadness and reflection.”