Veteran Bollywood actor Prem Chopra — known for his iconic villainous roles spanning over six decades — was recently hospitalised due to severe congestion. 2 Weeks later, his son-in-law Sharman Joshi revealed that the 90-year-old actor was diagnosed with severe Aortic Stenosis and underwent a successful Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)— a minimally invasive heart procedure that replaced his faulty valve without open-heart surgery.
“Dad was diagnosed with severe Aortic Stenosis, and Dr. Rao successfully performed the TAVI procedure, replacing the valve without open-heart surgery,” Sharman Joshi wrote in his post.
Prem Chopra has reportedly recovered well and returned home, bringing immense relief to his family and fans.
Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic stenosis occurs when the valve between the heart’s main pumping chamber (left ventricle) and the body’s main artery (aorta) becomes narrowed. This narrowing restricts blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. Mayo Clinic+2Mayo Clinic+2The valve’s flaps (cusps) may become thickened, stiff, or fused — often due to age-related calcification. Mayo Clinic+2Wikipedia+2
While some people may not show symptoms for many years, once the condition worsens, it can cause:
Shortness of breath or breathlessness (especially on exertion) Cleveland Clinic+1
Rapid heartbeat, palpitations or fainting in severe cases Cleveland Clinic+1
If left untreated, severe aortic stenosis can increase the risk of complications such as heart failure, blood-clots, stroke or sudden cardiac death. Cleveland Clinic+2Wikipedia
TAVI Procedure
TAVI (also known as TAVR — Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) is a minimally-invasive method to treat severe aortic stenosis. Instead of opening the chest, doctors insert a catheter (through a blood vessel, often in the groin) to guide a replacement valve to the heart. Mayo Clinic+2Mayo Clinic+2
Once in place, the new valve expands and effectively takes over the function of the narrowed valve — restoring proper blood flow. Mayo Clinic+1
Compared to traditional open-heart surgery, TAVI offers the advantage of shorter recovery time, fewer complications, and suitability for older patients or those with additional health risks. The Financial Express+2Mayo Clinic+2
In Prem Chopra’s case, his advanced age made TAVI an especially suitable option — allowing his valve to be replaced without the rigors of open-heart surgery. Republic World+2Gulf News+2
The case of a 90-year-old actor successfully undergoing TAVI underscores how modern, less-invasive heart-valve treatments can work even at a very advanced age.
It highlights the importance of diagnosing aortic stenosis early — especially in older adults — because symptoms may be mild or develop slowly over years.
Sharing such stories publicly (as done by Sharman Joshi) helps increase awareness about heart-valve disease and encourages people to consult doctors when they experience heart-related symptoms, even if they seem minor.
