Fondly known as Tom Uncle, Yash Johar was born on September 6, 1929. He began his career in Bollywood in 1952 in Sunil Dutt's production house and got associated with films like 'Mujhe Jeene Do' and 'Yeh Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke' (All photos/mid-day archives)

Johar embarked on his film career as a photographer and, in 1952, he became a part of Sunil Dutt's esteemed production company, Ajanta Arts. Throughout the 1960s and '70s, he lent his talents to Dev Anand's Navketan International Films, contributing significantly to the production of iconic films such as "Guide" (1965), "Jewel Thief" (1967), and "Prem Pujari" (1970), often referred to as "Priest of Love."

Yash Johar founded Dharma Productions in 1976 and made Hindi films that were noted for featuring lavish sets and exotic locations, but upheld Indian traditions and family values. The first film produced by the company 'Dostana' (1980), starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Zeenat Aman, Prem Chopra and Amrish Puri was a huge box office success

This was followed by a handful of other films in the 1980s and early 1990s most notably 'Agneepath' (the Amitabh Bachchan starrer), 'Gumrah' (the Sanjay Dutt and Sridevi starrer) and 'Duplicate' (the Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla starrer)

Dharma got unprecedented success with their 1998 award-winning film 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' which was the directorial debut of his son Karan Johar. The film starring Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kajol, was an all-time blockbuster and was one of the biggest hits of the year particularly in the overseas market

The last film Yash Johar was involved in the production of was 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' which was a critical and commercial success, becoming the second top-grossing movie domestically and the top-grossing Bollywood film in the overseas market that year

Yash Johar passed away on June 26, 2004, in Mumbai, aged 75, due to a chest infection, he was also battling cancer

Years after Yash Johar's death, his son, filmmaker Karan Johar remade his father's production 'Agneepath', with Hrithik Roshan, as it was his dream to make it a commercial hit this time around. Yes, you heard that right! The Amitabh Bachchan starrer wasn't a commercial success. "My decision to remake 'Agneepath' is purely an emotional one. And I am glad that I am as passionate about the film as my father was. I want to make this film again in memory of my father and I will make sure I get it right commercially," KJo had said, during Agneepath's (2012) press conference

Very few know that Yash Johar, before becoming a filmmaker and launching Dharma Productions, worked as a production controller for the Dev Anand starrer 'Guide' (1965)

Amitabh Bachchan, Randhir Kapor and Yash Johar captured in a candid moment during the launch of the book 'Raj Kapoor Speaks'

On Father's Day, 2019, Karan Johar posted this picture with his late father Yash Johar and wrote in the caption, "Papa! We have a daughter named after mom and a son named after you ..... you would have pinched their cheeks like you always pinched mine! They call me dada! And I want to be the father to them that you were to me... [sic]"

Ramesh Sippy and wife Kiran Juneja with Yash Johar during the premiere of the film 'Tujhe Meri Kasam'

Subhash Ghai, Canadian politician Herb Dhaliwal with Yash Johar

Director Raman Kumar, Subhash Ghai, Govinda and Yash Johar at the 21st anniversary of Mukta Arts

Yash Chopra, Yash Johar and Mufti Mohammed at an event

"Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" was Johar's favorite movie directed by his son Karan. But initially, he wasn't too excited about it as he found it too ambitious. Karan recalled in an interview, "It was my father Yash Johar's most favorite film. He liked 'K3G' even more than my first film 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.' That alone makes 'K3G' more special for me!"

Yash Johar received a cancer diagnosis around the time when "Kal Ho Naa Ho" began production. Despite battling his illness and enduring pain, he remained resolute in ensuring that everything on the set ran smoothly. Karan once disclosed in an interview, "Everyone went into depression. But my father continued to function normally. Not once, even for a day, did he let us feel his pain. Keeping the film on schedule was more important to him than his health."