Tributes pour in for producer-singer Pamela Chopra, wife of Yash Chopra, who passed away today

We are grateful for your prayers and the family would like to request for privacy in this moment of deep sadness and reflection.”

Pamela was reportedly admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital. “She passed away today. She was on ventilator in Lilavati hospital for 15 days. She had pneumonia,” Dr Prahlad Prabhudesai told indianexpress.com.

Considered one of the biggest supporters of her husband, she made immense contribution in his growth as one of the top-most directors of the country. From being a homemaker, she came to be known as a playback singer, screenwriter, costume designer and producer associated with a number of YRF films. Some of her most famous songs were Chandni’s Main Sasural Nahi Jaungi (1989) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’s Ghar Aaja Pardesi (1995), which she sang with Manpreet Kaur. Daughter of an Indian Navy officer, she married Yash in 1970.

The recent Netflix docu-series The Romantics highlighted Pamela’s contribution in building YRF. In the show, she spoke about her love for music and how she used to attend the music sittings of YRF projects. Speaking about it, Uday said on the show: “My mother had a really good sense of music and song. We have this gadda room in our house, the music room, which was specifically created for a creatively inducive environment”. Many industry insiders know her as a film-buff, who regularly watched the latest movies with her friends at private screenings organised at Yash Raj Studios.

In a recent interview to PTI, Rani Mukerji, who is married to Aditya, said that it was Pamela’s influence that was behind Yash Chopra’s idea of women, which has been much appreciated. “I truly believe it had to do a lot with Pam Aunty’s (Pamela Chopra) influence in his life that drove him to write such beautiful parts for women. I have always been in awe of how he presented his heroines on screen, and secretly always wished to be the quintessential ‘Yash Chopra heroine’,” the actor said.

Expressing his admiration for Pamela, writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar tweeted: “Today Pamji, the better half of Shri Yash Chopra, has passed away. She was a great lady. Intelligent, educated, warm and witty. Those who like me have worked closely with Yashji, know about her contribution in his scripts and music. She was an exceptional person.”
Actor Sanjay Dutt, in his tweet, said, “… Her impact on the industry and the lives she touched will always be remembered.”

Several film personalities, including Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, Anupam Kher and Sonu Nigam, attended her funeral, which was held around 11 am.