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EXCLUSIVE: Vivek Oberoi and Anupam Kher fondly remember Yash Chopra on his birth anniversary
Vivek Oberoi and Anupam Kher spoke candidly about Yash Chopra.
We all remember Yash Chopra as an iconic filmmaker who changed the landscape of Bollywood movies. But, the ones who knew him personally will agree that he was the most down-to-earth and a warm human being.
As today marks Yash ji's birth anniversary, Pinkvilla got in touch with Vivek Oberoi and Anupam Kher who spoke fondly about the filmmaker.
Vivek, who worked in Yash Chopra's movie Saathiya said, "For me, Yash uncle as we all called him was an iconic cinematic genius, especially of romance. But, whenever he'd meet us in Yash Raj, his warmth and love used to be almost like a manpower of the industry. Even though he was very young at heart, young in terms of his thought processes, he had the warmth of a Punjabi grandfather who would want to feed you and take care of you. That just cut across everything. You didn't get intimidated by him even though he was such an iconic figure. Like, there are so many other iconic figures, directors, producers or actors, when you meet them, you feel a sense of intimidation. But, he has an incredible warmth that just cut through it all and made you feel like you were a part of his family. Pam aunty and him together were just this amazing couple that made you feel like you belong. That was an incredible quality and something I will never forget."
On a piece of advice he received from Yash ji and the actor revealed, "On the one hand, he was this fun-loving grandfather-like figure who'd pamper you, feed you, take care of you and ask you how you are doing. It made you feel like you have known him for years and make you feel like you're a part of his family. He had an incredible ability to make you feel... anybody who knew him would fall in love with him. He was that kind of a guy. He'll always be smiling and happy. On the other hand, in terms of personally remembering any kind of specific advice, I remember one incident where I had met him when I was going through a very difficult time in my life. And, he just put his arm around me and he told me about how he had been through a decade of difficult times in his life, professionally. And he just said, 'Vivek, just hang in there and never give up. Keep that spirit positive and keep going.' I remember that day and today when I look back, I think it was a great valuable advice because even though it was really simple, they're golden words and something that I believe in today."
Vivek concluded, "The thing is that unfortunately I never got a chance to work with him as a director. He was not on my set as he only produced Saathiya. He didn't direct it. Because of that I never got a chance to work with him and that will be a big loss for me to not work with him as a director. But how much ever I got to know him as an individual, as an elder of my industry, as a well-wisher and my producer, he's an amazing man and we sorely miss him."
On the other hand, Anupam and Yash ji have had a long-lasting friendship that had lasted for decades.
Anupam got reminiscent about the filmmaker and said, "10 years of Yash ji, before he passed away...whenever I was in Bombay, I used to spend every morning with him and have breakfast with him. So I can't just state one advice. Spending that breakfast time with him for so many years, sitting and learning so many things about life. I think the biggest advice that he said was, 'Just be happy! Just stay happy. Things will happen, ups and downs will keep coming. You just need to learn to be happy.' I think the easiest thing to say and at the same time, if you apply it, the easiest thing to do also."
Recalling interesting anecdotes from the sets of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge, the actor revealed, "Everything is an incident. The greatest thing about being on his sets was... whoever the cast is, he was the most energetic and enthusiastic. The most childlike quality, if somebody had, was Yash Chopra ji. The best thing was when Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge was being shot, he was an assistant, a producer, the man running around, hiding behind places so that he is not seen. Matlab, if you made a film with a hidden camera on Yash ji during the making of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge, it would have done at least, if not more business than any of his films. It was hilarious, it was moving, compassionate and amazing. It was so great. The whole experience was great when we were doing Lamhe."
Anupam concluded, "He was a great communicator. He was a great human. He had this amazing earthiness about himself which was very infectious. I remember as a struggling actor after he had seen a play of mine (Desire Under The Elms), he invited me...I invited myself. I said, 'Sir, can I come and see you?' Because he had liked my play. He called me and I went and he offered me lassi ka full glass. He said, 'Ek role hai, jiske liye maine aapko bulaane ke liye soch raha tha but after seeing the play, I think you deserve much bigger things. Many years later, when he was casting for a film called Vijay, the role that was to be done by Dilip Kumar sahab was given to me. I can write a book about my last few years with him."
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