MUMBAI: Bollywood’s legendary filmmaker, Yash Chopra might have loved shooting at serene foreign locales especially Switzerland, but it was our neighbouring country – Pakistan, that the late director had a soft corner for.
A visiting Pakistani director Iram Parveen Bilal remembers the humble filmmaker when he was in shooting in Pakistan for his Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji starrer ‘Veer Zaara’.
“Yashji was born in Lahore so he always had a soft corner for Pakistan. I was here when ‘Veer-Zaara’ released and it was a friend of a friend who introduced me to him. He welcomed me with open arms. He was a humble man who wanted to inspire people. I took advice from him and he always said in Raj Kapoor’s style, ‘The show must go on’. I don’t know anyone in his family, but I will go and pay my respects to him,” Bilal said.
The young director grew up watching Chopra’s evergreen romances “Kabhi Kabhie”, “Chandni” and says that he is a huge source of inspiration for her.
“I have always been a big nerd and I was selected to go to the Asian Olympiad of Physics. But my parents and me always loved Bollywood films. I have been brought up in Nigeria and Pakistan and I grew up watching films like ‘Silsila’, ‘Kabhi Kabhie’, ‘Chandni’. I have a long love history with Mumbai. I came here for the first time in 2004… Every time I came here, I met Yashji. No matter how busy he was, he would take out 5-10 minutes for me. He used to give me his pearls of wisdom. But the fact that he is no more and I won’t be able to meet him is heartbreaking,” said Bilal.
Meanwhile the director’s final film, his swan song, ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, may not see the light of day in Pakistan.
If sources are to be believed, Yash Chopra’s last directorial venture before his untimely demise, ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, will not see a release in our neighbouring country, Pakistan. The trailer of the film has stopped airing on several Pakistani news and entertainment channels.
Apparently, the reason for this ban is because Shah Rukh Khan plays an Indian army officer, Samar, and the film also has sensitive scenes featuring a Kashmir operation by the Indian army.
The media is still awaiting Pakistan’s central censor board’s official announcement on this issue.
Bollywood films have always been a rage in the country, and the people are extremely fond of our films. Shah Rukh Khan has one of the largest fan followings there, amongst the top stars of Bollywood.
‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma releases on 13th November, 2012
(With inputs from IANS)
