Filled with grief, sorrow on Ravi Chopra's death: Big B

Reminiscing the days spent together with filmmaker Ravi Chopra, who passed away Wednesday, Bollywood screen icon Amitabh Bachchan said he is "filled with grief and sorrow" on his "dear friend's" death.

"Ravi Chopra, my dear friend and director and producer passed away suddenly today (Wednesday), my son called to give me the news," Big B wrote in his official blog late Wednesday.

The veteran filmmaker, who was hospitalised in Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai, passed away at around 3.30 p.m Wednesday. The 68-year-old had been reportedly suffering from a severe lung ailment since the last few years.

Son of legendary producer and director late B.R. Chopra and the nephew of late Yash Chopra, Ravi is remembered for his soulful storytelling in films like "The Burning Train", "Aaj Ki Awaz", and "Baabul", among others.

On TV, he directed epic dramas like "Mahabharat" and "Ramayan".

"Filled with grief and sorrow, and unable to find words that could possibly describe what I go through, it is difficult to imagine those days spent together..."

"What does one write on such occasions, silence is the best condolence...," an emotional Big B said.

Chopra's debut as a director happened with "Zameer" with Big B and veteran actress Saira Banu. Later on, the actor worked with him in "Baghban", "Baabul", "Bhoothnath" and "Bhoothnath Returns".

"It is the time in life when you do not make friends, but lose them," Bacchchan tweeted.

The 71-year-old star is in the city to shoot Shoojit Sircar's "Piku".