Yash Chopra's wife Pamela Chopra breathes her last at the age of 74

Late filmmaker Yash Chopra’s wife and Aditya Chopra’s mother Pamela Chopra left for her heavenly abode at the age of 74 on Thursday (April 20, 2023). It is being reported that she passed away due to age-related illnesses. She was undergoing treatment in Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital for the past 15 days. Several Bollywood celebs are expected to be arriving at the hospital to pay their last respects.

“With heavy hearts, the Chopra family would like to inform that Pamela Chopra, 74 passed away this morning. Her cremation took place at 11 am today in Mumbai. We are grateful for your prayers and the family would like to request privacy in this moment of deep sadness and reflection,”read an official statement of Yash Raj Films. Lyricist Javed Akhtar mourned the loss on Twitter saying, "Today Pam ji the better half of Shri Yash Chopra has passed away . She was a great lady . Intelligent, educated , warm and witty . Those who like me have worked closely with Yash ji know about her contribution in his scripts and music . She was an exceptional person." 

Pamela was a singer and contributed a lot to the music of many of the films made by Yash Chopra. She also worked as a scriptwriter, costume designer and producer. She sang songs in popular films including Chandni (1989), Kabhie Kabhie (1976), and Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) among others. She co-wrote the script of Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) with Yash, Aditya and Tanuja Chandra. She was also credited as the writer for Kabhie Kabhie. Besides it, she also turned dress designer for films like Silsila and Sawaal.

Pamela made her first appearance on the big screen with Yash in the song, Ek Duje Ke Vaaste, from Dil Toh Pagal Hai. She was last seen in the documentary, The Romantics, which was a tribute to her husband. She is survived by her son Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra, and daughter-in-law Rani Mukerji. In a recent interview, Rani credited Pamela’s influence that led Yash Chopra to write beautiful parts for women. “I truly believe it had to do a lot with Pam Aunty’s (Pamela Chopra) influence in his life that drove him to write such beautiful parts for women. I have always been in awe of how he presented his heroines on screen, and secretly always wished to be the quintessential ‘Yash Chopra heroine’,” she told PTI.