'Rani has changed Adi for the better. If he is happy, why should I not be happy?'
Pamela Chopra, in a fascinating interview with Patcy N/Rediff.com, on her sons, Aditya and Uday Chopra, and her daughter-in-law Rani Mukerji.
This interview was earlier posted on Rediff.com in February 2015.
- PART 1 of the Interview: 'I was told Yash Chopra and Mumtaz were just friends. That wasn't the truth'
What do you think about the movies being made now by Yash Raj Films?
I don't like them (laughs). I ask my son, 'Is this from Yash Raj?'
Lafangey Parindey (laughs). Kill Dil, the latest one. These are not Yash Raj Film titles at all.
My sons say, 'You don't know, mom. When you see the film, you will realise it is appropriate.'
Badmaash Company (laughs again). I can't get over these titles.
Do you watch movies made today?
I watch every single movie. I really like some, and some I don't.
Were you happy when your sons decided to be in the movies?
There was no question of Adi going into another profession. From the age of one-and-a-half, he would recognise shots.
As a toddler he once told me, 'That's a crane shot' -- we were watching the film on television.
I couldn't make out whether it was a crane shot or not, but this toddler could make out.
Is Aditya Chopra a very shy person?
No, not at all, he is just media shy.
Yash was a different kind of person. His PR was superb. If he liked someone, he would like him for life and would do anything for that person.
If he disliked someone, he would never talk to that person. He had very strong likes and dislikes.
But in a business environment, he was very good. He knew he should not show his dislike or become emotional.
I used to always tell Adi, 'Beta, God forbid, once we are gone, how will you manage? We have so many friends and have such good relationships.'
He would say, 'Mom, aaj kal kya hain, paise do, sab kuch mil jata hain (These days, you get everything with money).'
Adi has done really well, but Uday hasn't been that successful.
Yes, that would upset me because it would upset Uday.
Are you happy now that he has set up a production house in the US?
Yes, I am very happy. He needed to get out of the shadow of his father and brother.
Now that he is on his own, he is very happy and he is learning the ropes. Hollywood is a very cut-throat place.
Do you miss him?
Yes. He was the only one at home, although I would get to see him only for five minutes whenever he wanted to see my face.
He would come down...as I would say, descend from the heavens (laughs) to come and see me.
Were you lonely with all the men of the family working?
I am a very resourceful person. I have lots of things to do. I read, I do suduku, the crossword, watch television...
Managing a household is also not easy. I am a middle-class housewife even today.
DDLJ completed 1,000 weeks. How does that feel? What were you going through when the movie was being made?
When I saw the first print of the movie, I told my husband, this son will go beyond you.
I knew, because that was the only relationship in which there was no jealousy. A father will always be happy if his son went beyond him.
I was sure of the film. The wonderful thing is I saw the film again, now, and it looked so fresh, except for the fact that Shah Rukh looks like a baby and so does Kajol.
You rarely made public appearances earlier, but now you do.
What to do? My husband is getting awards posthumously.
My sons are not willing to go and I don't want an executive from the office to go and receive the award. So I am forced to make public appearances.
What kind of relationship did Yashji have with his sons?
They were buddies. I used to say that the youngest child in my house is Yash.
They use to do all kinds of things together.
Get wet in the rains, jhappi paakey (hug and cuddle), roll on the bed and all that. They were wonderful together.
You said Chopra bahus don't go on the sets, but Rani Mukerji acts.
I don't have any problem with that. There was a tradition in the Chopra family that the Chopra women don't act or go on the sets.
But in the face of love, you don't make such stupid distinctions.
Is she the bahu you wanted?
I don't know about that. I can tell you that she is the perfect wife for Adi.
Adi is a different person these days. He is so happy, always smiling.
When he was younger, he would sing walking up the stairs; he has started doing that again.
He danced at his wedding! (laughs).
She has changed him for the better. And if he is happy, why should I not be happy?
