Mumbai, February 14 Anand Ramanand Sagar Chopra, the son of legendary filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, famous for "Ramayana", passed away after a prolonged illness here, his wife Nisha Sagar Chopra said.
He was 84 years old.
"He took his last breath at 10:37 am yesterday morning. The entire family was with him. He passed away peacefully. He was a kind and gentle soul. He was always respectful of others. His loss is a great one for everyone," his wife told news agency PTI.
Nisha Sagar Chopra shared that her husband had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for the last 25 years.
"Even in that condition, he made 'Ramayana' for NDTV, which he directed. Things deteriorated in the last two years; it was a severe stage of Parkinson's. In the last few months, he contracted an infection, and he couldn't recover. He was bedridden for a couple of months. So, advanced Parkinson's and the infection were the cause of his death," she said.
Anand Sagar Chopra, born on September 3, 1941, directed five films, including "Hamrahi" with Randhir Kapoor and Tanuja, "Ram Bharose" featuring Amjad Khan, Vidya Sinha, Sarika, and Rakesh Roshan, "Armaan" with Shammi Kapoor, and others.
He also directed songs, including 'Hari Om Hari' from the film "Pyaara Dushman" and 'Ramba Ho Samba Ho' from the movie, "Armaan". Both high-energy disco songs were sung by Bappi Lahiri and Usha Uthup.
Anand Sagar also directed TV shows like "Ramayana", "Shirdi Ke Saibaba", and many others.
Arun Govil, the lead actor of "Ramayana", wrote a heartfelt note on social media, fondly remembering his "dear friend".
"The news of the passing of Anand Ramanand Sagar Chopra ji, at the age of 84 in Mumbai, is extremely heartbreaking. He was not only endowed with a sensitive and noble personality, but as a skilled director, he carved out a distinct identity for himself in the world of Indian television and cinema," Govil said.
The actor, who played the role of Lord Rama in the TV show, said working with Anand Sagar Chopra was the most "joyful and unforgettable" experience of his life.
"I pray to Lord Shri Ram ji that he grants a place at his divine feet to the departed soul and bestows strength upon the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow," Govil said.
The funeral of Anand Sagar was held on Friday evening at Pawan Hans crematorium in suburban Mumbai. The family will hold a prayer meet on Monday.
Anand Sagar is survived by his wife and three children.