New Delhi: Filmmaker Yash Chopra's spouse and well-known playback vocalist Pamela Chopra passed suddenly in Mumbai on Thursday, according to her family. She was 74 years old.
The Chopra family issued a family statement which read as, "With heavy hearts, the Chopra family would like to inform that Pamela Chopra, 74, passed away this morning. Her cremation took place at 11 a.m. today in Mumbai."
The family also thanked everyone for their prayers and asked for "privacy in this moment of deep sadness and reflection."
According to a Bollywood source, Pamela nee Singh, who had been ill for a few weeks, passed away this morning after being treated at Mumbai's Leelavati Hospital.
Famous playback singer Pamela Chopra, the widow of the man known as the "czar of romantic movies," is survived by her two sons, actor-producer Uday Chopra and filmmaker Aditya Chopra, who is married to actress Rani Mukherjee.
Pamela, a cousin of the well-known actress and current TV anchor Simi Garewal, wed Yash Chopra in 1970. Yash was the younger brother of the illustrious director B.R. Chopra, a Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee.
Yash Chopra, who was also a Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, died of dengue disease in Mumbai in October 2012 at the age of 80.
After getting married, Pamela Chopra began singing in Hindi and Punjabi. She is best known for the upbeat songs "Main sasural nahin jaoongi" (Chandni, 1989), "Banno ki aayegi baraat" (Aaina, 1993), "Ghar aaja pardesi" (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, 1995), "Surkh jode ki ye jagmagahat' (Kabhie Kabhie, 1976), a courtesan song 'Idhar aa sitamgar' (Sawaal, 1982), a qawwali 'Aashiq ho to aisa ho' and the sombre 'Uske khel nirale' (both from Noorie, 1979), 'Ja re behna ja' (Trishul, 1978).
She sang solos and duets for a number of well-known music composers, primarily for films released under the family name, including the late Mohammed Zahur Hashmi "Khayyam," Rajesh Roshan, Shiv-Hari, Jatin-Lalit, Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen, and others.
Pamela had other roles too, like co-writer for 'Kabhie Kabhie', producer for 'Aaina', Associate Producer for one of Bollywood's biggest superhits 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', and also for 'Mohabbatein', 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge', 'Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai', 'Veer Zara', co-producer and writer of 'Dil To Paagal Hai', and the dress designer for 'Silsila' and 'Sawaal'.
She was a trained dancer and once made a fleeting on-screen appearance alongside her late spouse in the song "Ek Duuje Ke Vaaste" (Dil To Paagal Hai).
Bollywood reacted with shock and grief over Pamela's demise and many actors, actresses, producers, directors, composers, and others posted condolence messages on social media.
With IANS inputs.