Pamela Chopra
| Pamela Chopra | |
|---|---|
 Chopra with husband Yash Chopra (on right) in 2011. | |
| Born |
Pamela Singh 1938 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Pam Chopra |
| Occupation | Playback singer, film producer, writer |
| Spouse(s) | Yash Chopra (1970-2012; his death) |
| Children |
Aditya Chopra Uday Chopra |
Pamela Chopra (born 1938) is a Bollywood playback singer. She is the widow of veteran film director Yash Chopra. She has also written and produced several films.
Early life
Chopra was born as Pamela Singh, the daughter of Mohinder Singh, an officer in the Indian Army. The eldest of three children, she has two younger brothers. Since her father was posted in several remote locations all over India, and Pamela was educated at several army schools. Chopra is a cousin of the actress Simi Garewal. Chopra's father Mohinder Singh and Garewal's mother Darshi Garewal were brother and sister.[1]
Marriage
Chopra married the film-maker Yash Chopra in 1970. The marriage was arranged by their families in the traditional Indian manner. The two families had a common friend, the mother of film-maker Romesh Sharma (producer of the blockbuster Hum). It was Mrs. Sharma who contacted the wife of BR Chopra and suggested that Pamela Singh would be 'the ideal bride' for BR's younger brother Yash Chopra.[2] "She was not wrong because we had a wonderful marriage" Pamela was to say forty years later in an interview. The couple met each other for the first time in a formal setting and found each other agreeable. The wedding was held in 1970. They have two sons together, Aditya (b. 1971) and Uday (b. 1973).[3] Aditya Chopra is a film producer and director. He is married to the actress Rani Mukerji. Uday Chopra is an actor and film producer.
Career
Pamela has dabbled in several fields connected to films. She is a talented singer who has sung several film songs, all of them for her husband's films, from Kabhie Kabhie (1976) to Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002). Her name also appeared in the capacity of 'producer' on the credits of films made and directed by her husband. However, the 1993 film Aaina was independently produced by her.[4] She also co-wrote the script of her husband's 1997 film Dil To Pagal Hai along with son Aditya Chopra, Tanuja Chandra and Yash Chopra. She has also appeared on screen on one single occasion: in the opening song "Ek Duje Ke Vaaste" of the film Dil To Pagal Hai, where she and her husband appeared together. As a schoolgirl, she had learnt Bharatanatyam, but she has never performed in public.[1]
Selected filmography
Playback singer
| Year | Film | Song | Co-singers | Music director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Kabhie Kabhie | "Surkh Jode Ki Yeh Jagmagahat" | Lata Mangeshkar | Khayyam |
| 1977 | Doosra Aadmi | "Angna Ayenge Sanvariya" | Deven Verma and chorus | Rajesh Roshan |
| 1978 | Trishul | "Ja Ri Bahena Ja" | K. J. Yesudas, Kishore Kumar | Khayyam |
| 1979 | Noorie | • "Ashiq Ho To Aisa Ho" • "Uske Khel Nirale" | • Mahendra Kapoor, Jagjit Kaur • Jagjit Kaur, Anwar | Khayyam |
| 1979 | Kaala Patthar | "Jaggaya Jaggaya" | Mahendra Kapoor, S.K. Mohan | Rajesh Roshan |
| 1981 | Silsila | "Khudse Waada Kiya" | --Solo-- | Shiv-Hari |
| 1982 | Bazaar | "Chale Aao Saiyaan" | ||
| 1982 | Sawaal | "Idhar Aa Sitamgar" | Jagjit Kaur | Khayyam |
| 1984 | Lorie | |||
| 1985 | Faasle | |||
| 1989 | Chandni | "Main Sasural Nahi Jaaungi" | Chorus | Shiv-Hari |
| 1991 | Lamhe | "Freak Out (Parody Song)" | Sudesh Bhonsle | Shiv-Hari |
| 1993 | Darr | "Meri Maa Ne Laga Diye" | Lata Mangeshkar, Kavita Krishnamurthy | Shiv-Hari |
| 1993 | Aaina | "Banno Ki Aayegi Baraat" | --Solo-- | Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen |
| 1995 | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | "Ghar Aaja Pardesi" | Manpreet Kaur | Jatin Lalit |
| 2002 | Mujhse Dosti Karoge! | "The Medley" | Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam | recreated by Rahul Sharma |
Other roles
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Kabhie Kabhie | Writer | |
| 1981 | Silsila | Dress designer | |
| 1982 | Sawaal | Dress designer | |
| 1993 | Aaina | Producer | |
| 1995 | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | Associate producer | |
| 1997 | Dil To Pagal Hai | Co-producer Screenwriter | |
| 2000 | Mohabbatein | Associate producer | |
| 2002 | Mujhse Dosti Karoge! | Associate producer | |
| 2002 | Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai | Associate producer | |
| 2004 | Veer-Zaara | Associate producer | |
References
- 1 2 Parker, Shaheen (24 October 2012). "Yashji was always Pam's priority: Simi Garewal". Mumbai: Mid Day. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ↑ Interview with Pamela Chopra
- ↑ "The life and times of Yash Chopra". Pune Mirror. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ↑ Vijayakar, Rajiv (25 October 2012). "Women in Yash Chopra's films". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 24 January 2013.