Most of the lovely ladieswho worked with Yash Chopraand Yashraj Films, including theelusive Sadhana, showed up forthe Doyen’s swan song. OnlyKajol, the heroine who workedin Yashraj’s most successful filmto date Dilwale Dulhaniya LeJayenge didn’t show up, leadingto muted whispers across thehuge august gathering thatevening to pay homage to a manwho wrote and rewrote manycelluloid romance.While a leading man veryclose to Yashraj says Kajol wasnot invited for the premiere atall (in keeping with the boxofficefeud that her husbandAjay Devgn had precipitated) aleading lady close to AdityaChopra and his banner vehementlyprotests in AdityaChopra’s defence. “Kajol wasmost certainly invited.
And Ibelieve she had every intentionof coming. There was no pressurefrom her husband AjayDevgn not to attend the premiere.However Adi being oneof her closest friends, didn’tpressurise Kajol to attend thepremiere. From what I knowAdi left the option to attend ornot to attend entirely with Kajol.
She finally decided to give it askip because she wanted toavoid unnecessary controversies.Also, all said and done, herloyalty is with her husband andhis film.”Kajol’s absence at the premierewas palpable. In hisbeloved father’s absence it waspresumed by all the distinguishedinvitees that AdityaChopra would play the host ofthe evening along with the restof the Chopra family.Aditya Chhopra maintainteda very low profile throughoutthe evening.
Even later at theafter-party that was held afterthe premiere on another floor ofthe Yashraj Studios, AdityaChopra made just a fleetingappearance and then vanished.However the evening wentoff like a charm. The theatre forthe screening was constructedlike an opera theatre with layeredacoustics and a decor thatnudged the finest opera theatresin Paris. Guests were seated intwo areas.
One on a slightlyhigher level where actors andfilmmakers closely associatedwith Yash Raj sat including ofcourse the Bachchan family.Curiously Ashutosh Gowarikerand R. Balki who have neverbeen associated with Yashrajwere also seated in the “familyarea”.Lower down outside the”family area” one could seeAamir Khan and HrithikRoshan who have worked inYashraj’s Mujhse Dosti Karogiand Fanaa.Says an invitee, “These areminor issues.
The arrangementwas impeccable. Pam auntygreeted each and every guestpersonally. And it was wonderfulto see heroines closely associatedwith the banner includingSadhana and Saira Banu presentto pay a final homage to Yashji.Some of us wept openly whenwith the end – credits shots ofYashji shooting J
