Bollywood film, TV producer

B.R. Chopra, 94, a veteran Indian filmmaker whose Bollywood career spanned five decades, died Wednesday at his home in Mumbai of ailments relating to old age, according to Yash Raj Films, a movie studio run by his younger brother.

Baldev Raj Chopra was born in Ludhiana, India, on April 22, 1914. After studying at Lahore University, he worked as a movie reporter.

After the partition of India, he moved to Mumbai, where he started his career as a filmmaker. He started his own production house, B.R. Films, in 1955. He became known for producing socially conscious movies in India.

Chopra’s films “Sadhana” and “Dharmputra,” directed by his brother Yash, dealt with the issues of rehabilitation of prostitutes and sectarianism after the partition.

He hired Mahendra Kapoor for many of his films, and was said to be instrumental in developing the singer’s career.

He also produced “Mahabharat,” one of the most successful Indian TV programs.