Pamela Chopra (1938-2023) was an Indian playback singer, film writer and producer. She is the wife of veteran Bollywood film director Yash Chopra. She is often credited as a writer, costume designer and singer in Yash Chopra’s films. She died of pneumonia on April 20, 2023, at Lilavati Hospital and Research Center, Mumbai.
Wiki/Biography
Pamela Singh was born in 1948 (age 74-75 at the time of death). She belonged to a typical Indian joint family and spent her childhood with many cousins. She grew up studying in different Army schools as her father was a naval officer and served in several remote locations across India.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′3″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
She comes from a Punjabi family.
Parents and siblings
Pamela Chopra’s father Mohinder Singh is an Indian Navy officer. She has two younger brothers.
husband and children
In 1970, she married veteran Bollywood film director Yash Chopra (late).
Yash Chopra and Pamela Chopra wedding photos
Her son (born 1971) Aditya Chopra is also a film director, producer and writer. Aditya is the chairman of Yash Raj Films (YRF), the entertainment company founded by his father. Her son Uday Chopra (born 1973) is an actor and producer, best known for starring in the Bollywood films Mohabbatein (2000) and Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002) year) and the sequel to Dhoom.
Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra childhood photos with parents Pamela Chopra and Yash Chopra
Pamela Chopra and Yash Chopra
Pamela Chopra and Uday Chopra
Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukerji
others
Indian actress and talk show host Simmi Gariwal is Pamela Chopra’s cousin. Simmi’s mother Darshi and Pamela’s father Mohinder Singh are siblings.
From left to right: Simi Garewal, Hema Malini and Pamela Chopra
Pamela Chopra’s brother-in-law BR Chopra (Yash Chopra’s brother) is also a famous Bollywood film director and producer. Her son Aditya is married to Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji.
Pamela Chopra and Rani Mukerji
Indian film producer Karan Johar’s mother Hiru Johar is Yash Chopra’s sister.
From left to right: Yash Chopra, Pamela Chopra, Hiru Johar and Yash Johar
Profession
Before her marriage, she worked for British Airways. After marrying Yash, she ventured into various fields related to films under her family’s production brand, Yash Raj Films (YRF). Pamela Chopra has lent her voice to many songs in Yash Chopra’s films, from the 1976 film “Kabhi Kabhie” to the 2002 film “Mujhse Dosti Karoge”. One of her most famous songs are “Main Sasural Nahi Jaungi” from “Chandni” (1989) and “Ghar Aaja Pardesi” from “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995), with whom she collaborated with Manpreet Kaur ( Manpreet Kaur co-wrote both songs. She also wrote the story for the film Kabhie Kabhie (1976), which later became one of Yash Chopra’s most popular films. Although her name appears as “producer” in the closing credits of several films produced by her husband, she independently produced the film Aaina (1993).
She co-created the 1997 blockbuster film Dil To Pagal Hai with Yash Chopra, Aditya Chopra and Tanuja Chandra. She appeared briefly on screen in the opening number “Ek Duje Ke Vaaste” of “Dil To Pagal Hai” (1997) with Yash Chopra. She is also credited with the story of the Bollywood film Lamhe (1991), based on the romantic novel Daddy-Long-Legs (1912). She worked as costume manager for the films Noorie (1979), Silsila (1981) and Sawaal (1982). She worked as an associate producer on the films “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995), “Mohabbatein” (2000), “Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai” (2002) and “Veer-Zaara” (2004).
die
Pamela Chopra died of pneumonia on April 20, 2023, at Lilavati Hospital and Research Center in Mumbai. Her cremation took place on the same day in Mumbai. Fifteen days ago, she was admitted to the hospital due to her age and needed a ventilator after her health deteriorated.
Favorites
Facts/Trivia
- She has been fond of music and dance since she was a child, and also learned Bharatnatyam dance when she was young. Simi Garewal recalled her childhood with Pamela in an interview, saying:
She loved singing Punjabi songs and would teach me how to sing with the right accent. Whatever Punjabi songs I know, I owe them to her. Pam also learned Bharatnatyam dance and I remember when I was little we would dance until 2am during the holidays. She would keep saying this until I could take the right steps. “
Recognizing Pamela’s passion for music, Yash Chopra ensured that his wife became a part of the musical sequences of his films. Pamela said the same thing in the documentary series The Romantics (2023),
Music is my passion. Yash knew this and would invite me to music parties. Slowly, I became a member of this group. “
- Pamela and Yash first met at a cricket match in Delhi. However, they did not talk or meet there. In an interview, she also talked about the same thing,
Oh yes. I first met him at the Star Cricket Show in Delhi. Yash sat a few rows ahead of us. My cousin pointed him out to me. Yash turned and saw us. My cousin was very pretty and, you know, he had an eye for pretty girls, so he kept turning around throughout the game. But we didn’t meet or talk. “
- The two first met when Pamela’s cousin Simmi Gariwal introduced them at the wedding of Yash’s niece in Mumbai. Pamela said in an interview about their first meeting:
I think the first time I spoke to him was at Yashji’s niece’s wedding. I was on vacation in Mumbai and stayed at Simi’s house. They were invited and took me with them. They said I would become a huge asset when I sang Punjabi songs. I only knew him for a short time at first. He is busy convincing Hema Malini to do a film. He and Hema had been on the balcony. He came in just as the singing started. I am singing. He came up to me and complimented my singing. That’s it. “
- Their families arranged a traditional Indian marriage through a mutual friend, the mother of filmmaker Romesh Sharma. Apparently, Romesh’s mother saw Pamela at a wedding in Delhi. Thereafter, she called BR Chopra’s wife and suggested that Pamela be the ideal bride for BR’s brother Yash.
- She is also known as Pam Chopra and is fondly called Aunt Pam by many.
- She enjoys the occasional alcoholic beverage. Sharmila Tagore said about Pamela and Yash in an interview:
Ash and Pam are very much in love. I remember one time I was coming back from London and they were sitting in the seat in front of me. As you know, Yash never drinks, but they shared a glass of champagne, one each. What a sweet moment, toasting each other, keeping each other company, and appreciating each other. ”
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education