Family and friends bid a tearful farewell to Indian cinema’s “King of roma-nce” Yash Chopra at the Juhu crematorium on Mon-day afternoon. The 80-year-old thespian passed away on Sunday evening, after falling victim to dengue.
Bedecked with flowers, Chopra’s body was brought to the Pawan Hans crematorium in Juhu in an ambulance, with only family members and close friends inside, including his sons Aditya and Uday. Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan were the only two actors who accompanied Chopra’s body for the final rites.
Earlier during the day, the entire film industry turned up to pay their last respects to the legendary filmmaker, whose body was kept at the Yash Raj Films studios since Sunday night. Security had to be beefed up inside the studios and on the Link Road for the VVIPs, who came to pay their last respect to the filmmaker. The otherwise recluse Aditya, his brother Uday and Rani Mukerji were seen at the entrance of the studios, to receive the visitors.
Apart from the film industry, Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan also made it to the studios, to pay his respects. From the industry, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, Tabu, Kajol, Parineeti Chopra, Tanisha, Rishi Kapoor, Ranbir Ka-poor and Randhir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and his fat-her Pankaj Kapoor, Kabir Khan, Vidya Balan, Gulza-ar, John Abraham, Ami-tabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif dropped in at the YRF studios to bid adieu to the filmmaker.
Chopra made his last public appearance at Bachchan’s 70th birthday bash. Despite being unwell, Chopra had insisted on being present for his friend’s special day.
On Sunday, Bachchan, Shah Rukh, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra were among the first few to rush to the hospital, after news of Chopra’s demise. The filmmaker’s body was taken to his Juhu residence from the hospital and then brought to the YRF studios.