Renowned Indian film director Yash Chopra died in hospital aged 80 on Sunday after suffering dengue fever, his production company said, ending a decades-long career of flamboyant Bollywood blockbusters. Dubbed "the king of romance" for his emotional and dramatic tales about the travails of love, Chopra was best known for classic hit movies including "Deewar" (Wall), "Chandni", "Silsila" and "Darr" (Fear).
He worked until the final months of his life and his last film "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" (Till I am Alive), featuring superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif, will be released on November 13.
Chopra told Khan in a televised interview to mark his 80th birthday in September that he was retiring. "It is with deep regret that we announce the sad demise of Mr. Yash Chopra, who breathed his last at around 5:30pm today," Yash Raj, the production company that he founded, said in a statement.