BOLLYWOOD: Movie mogul Yash Chopra dies after contracting dengue fever

RAJESH SHAH
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MUMBAI, India — Bollywood movie mogul Yash Chopra died Sunday in Mumbai more than a week after he contracted dengue fever, a doctor said. He was 80.

Known as the “King of Romance,” Chopra had a Hindi-language movie-making career that spanned five decades with major hits including Deewar (Wall), Dil To Pagal Hai (The Heart Is Mad) and Chandni (Moonlight).

Chopra, who died in Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, was also suffering from kidney ailments, according to Dr. Prakash Jiyavani.

“He passed away due to dengue and multiple organ failure,” the Press Trust of India news agency reported, quoting hospital spokesman Sudhir. The spokesman uses only one name.

Chropra’s latest Hindi movie, Jab Tak Hai Jaan (As Long As I Am Alive), is scheduled for release across India next month.

His elder son, Aditya Chopra, also is a successful film director and a younger son, Uday Chopra, runs the international branch of the family’s production house.

Yash Chopra started his film career under the tutelage of his elder brothe, veteran filmmaker B.R. Chopra, who died four years ago at age 94.

Tags: Bollywood, Yash Chopra