Ravi Chopra

Ravi Chopra (27 September 1946 – 12 November 2014) was an Indian film producer and director. He was the son of producer and director Baldev Raj Chopra and nephew of producer and director Yash Chopra. Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra are his cousins. He is known for directing the epic Indian television series Mahabharat, Vishnu Puran and Aap Beeti.

Ravi Chopra
Born(1946-09-27)27 September 1946
Died12 November 2014(2014-11-12) (aged 68)
Occupation
  • Producer
  • director
Spouse(s)Renu Chopra
Parent(s)
RelativesChopra family

Career

Film career

Chopra started his career assisting his father B.R. Chopra in films like, Dastaan (1972) and Dhund (1973). He also assisted his uncle Yash Chopra in Ittefaq (1969). Eventually, he made his independent directorial debut with Zameer (1975), produced under the family banner, B. R. Films. In 1980, he directed the ensemble disaster film The Burning Train, which over the years is considered a cult classic.[1] Other films he directed included Mazdoor (1983), Aaj Ki Awaaz, Dehleez (1986), Pratigyabadh, Kal Ki Awaz (1992). Then he, along with his father, directed TV series Mahabharat (1988–89) and Kanoon (1993–96). He independently directed TV series Vishnupuran, Ramayan. After a decade long hiatus from film direction, he made a comeback with the successful family drama Baghban in 2003. His final film as a director was Baabul in 2006.

Since 2006, the only movies Ravi produced after his father's death was Bhoothnath (2008) and Bhoothnath Returns (2013). Ravi Chopra was served with a legal notice in 2009 by 20th Century Fox, which charged that his upcoming movie Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai blatantly plagiarized the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny. Chopra and the production company, Mumbai-based BR Films, denied the charges in court in May 2009; the movie's release was to be delayed until June 2009 by order of the Bombay High Court. Fox sought damages of $1.4 million; this was the first time a Bollywood filmmaker was taken to court by a Hollywood company over the remaking of a film. Fox had given Chopra permission "to make a film loosely based on the Oscar-winning movie" but concluded the final product was a "substantial reproduction" of the original. The film has remained unreleased even after Ravi Chopra's death in 2014.

Television career

Ravi directed the highly successful television serial Mahabharat, which aired during 1988–1990, and the television mini-series, Ramayan, which was aired in 2002. He also directed mythological shows like Vishnu Puran and Ma Shakti. His TV series Aap Beeti was one of the most popular TV show on Doordarshan National in the early 2000s.

Personal life

Chopra was the son of producer and director B.R.Chopra and nephew of Yash Chopra. On 23 October 2012, he was diagnosed with a severe lung ailment and was discharged from Breach Candy hospital after a week. "He was discharged from hospital on October 26," hospital sources said, without going into details. He was being treated for lung cancer at CMC Vellore.[2] Chopra died on 12 November 2014 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai where he had been admitted a few days earlier for a lung ailment. He was 68 years old, and survived by his wife and two children.[3][4][5]

Filmography

Films
Year Title
1975 Zameer
1978 Tumhari Kasam
1980 The Burning Train
1983 Mazdoor
1984 Aaj Ki Awaaz
1986 Dahleez
1991 Pratigyabadh
1992 Kal Ki Awaaz
2003 Baghban
2006 Baabul

Television shows
Year Title
1988–1990 Mahabharat
2001–2002 Ramayan
2000–2002 Vishnu Puran

References
  1. Dubey, Bharati (6 November 2008). "Films transformed Chopra's destiny and vice-versa". Times of India. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  2. "Noted filmmaker Ravi Chopra discharged from Mumbai hospital". The Times of India. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. "Filmmaker Ravi Chopra Dies at 68". NDTV Movies. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  4. "Baghban director Ravi Chopra dies at 68". Hindustan Times. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. "Mahabharat co-director Ravi Chopra dies - Times of India".
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