Ravi Chopra produced path-breaking content both on TV and celluloid when his peers were following cliched formula
He gave television its biggest mythological TV show in the form of Mahabharat and later made people cry with his soulful story telling in films including The Burning Train and Baghban. Ravi Chopra, son of late BR Chopra, will be remembered for his works that touched heart and soul of people across globe.
The veteran filmmaker, who was hospitalised in Breach Candy hospital passed away due to severe lung ailment. Chopra’s career as an associate producer began with hit film Insaf Ka Tarazu followed by Nikaah and Awam. However, his debut as a director happened with film Zameer. On TV, he directed epic dramas like Mahabharat and Ramayan.
“No other country in the world has a value system so deeply and permanently entrenched in its mythology as India has,” Chopra had said while launching his Ramayana on Zee TV. Interestingly, not many people know that a legal notice was sent to Ravi Chopra in 2009 by 20th Century Fox because his film Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai plagiarised the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny. This caused delay in movie’s release until June 2009 following the order of the Bombay High Court. Fox wanted damages of $1.4 million. Chopra happened to be the first Bollywood director dragged to court by a Hollywood company over the plagiarism.
Though his directorial venture The Burning Train is dubbed today as a path-breaking, the film couldn’t emerge as a winner at the box office. This left Chopra heartbroken for a long time.
His original choice for Aaj Ki Awaz was Rajesh Khanna who despite liking the script asked the filmmaker to wait for a year. Chopra decided to go ahead with Raj Babbar. For this film, Smita Patil was nominated for the Filmfare Award for the best actress award.
His debut film Zameer didn’t work at the box office but his father’s Dastan and Dhund, whom he assisted, created wonders. Chopra is survived by his wife and three children.