Ravi Chopra
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Mahabharata co-director dies at 68
Avijit Ghosh The Times of India Nov 13 2014 New Delhi
Ravi Chopra, who co-directed `Mahabharata' (1988), one of the most popular serials in the history of Indian TV
Unlike his father B R Chopra, Ravi didn't always make movies with a social conscience. But his `Baghban' (2003), a film his father wanted to make 30 years ago, tackled the problem of elderly among the increasingly prosperous and individualistic urban middle-class. The film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, became a box-office biggie. The Big B connection, which had started way back with `Za meer' (1975), his debut film as a director, endured over dec ades. The successful kiddie-flick `Bhoothnath' (2008), which Ravi produced, saw the actor in another central role.
Born in Lahore shortly before Partition, Ravi learnt his craft assisting father craft assisting father and uncle Yash Chopra, but was trained as a filmmaker in the US. The Hollywood influence was evident in his younger days as a filmmaker.Aaj Ki Awaz' (1984), a box-of` fice smash with Raj Babbar in the lead, was inspired by Charles Bronson's vigilante thriller, `Death Wish'. And at a time when disaster-movies were big in Hollywood, he made `The Burning Train' (1980), one of the most talked-about and expensive box-office duds of its time.More recently , he coproduced two Deepa Mehta movies, `Heaven on Earth' (2008) with Preity Zinta in the lead and `Cooking with Stella' (2009) with Seema Biswas doing the title role.
However, Ravi's finest moment in career came via TV .At the peak of Mahabharat's popularity , streets nationwide would be empty during the telecast on Sundays.
Ravi's father, BR, passed away in 2008 and uncle Yash in 2012. Ravi died due to a lung ailment in 2014. He was 68.
