Indian director, producer and studio head Yash Chopra died today in Mumbai where he was being treated for dengue fever. He was 80 years old.

The founder of Yash Raj Films, Chopra had recently made his return to directing after an eight-year hiatus with romance Jab Tak Hai Jaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif, which is scheduled for release on November 13.

Born on September 27, 1932 in Lahore (then British India), Chopra started his career as an assistant director to his older brother BR Chopra and filmmaker IS Johar. He went on to direct some of Bollywood’s most famous films including Daag, Deewar, Kabhi Kabhie and most recently Veer Zaara in 2004.

He founded Yash Raj Films with Daag in 1973. The company remains one of India’s most successful and iconic production houses and scored a major hit this summer with Salman Khan vehicle Ek Tha Tiger.

In 2011, Yash Raj Films launched a Los Angeles-based production house YRF Entertainment, which produced The Longest Week, starring Jason Bateman, and is gearing up to produce Grace Of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman.

During his long and illustrious career, Chopra was presented with six awards at India’s most prestigious film honours, the National Film Awards, and also received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

He is survived by his wife Pamela and sons Aditya and Uday, both producers.

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