Mumbai, Aug 27: The Hindi film industry is mourning veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who died at the age of 77 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Kohli, who directed several popular Hindi films, was best known for launching Ajay Devgn with the 1991 action drama ‘Phool Aur Kaante’. The film played a significant role in establishing Devgn as a leading actor in Bollywood.
Devgn paid an emotional tribute to the filmmaker, expressing gratitude for the confidence Kohli showed in him at the beginning of his acting career. The tribute highlighted the lasting professional and personal impact the director had on the actor.
Kohli’s funeral was held in Mumbai on August 26, with several members of the film fraternity attending to pay their final respects. Actress Aruna Irani, Kohli’s wife, was visibly emotional during the last rites.
Actors and filmmakers from across the industry also remembered Kohli for his contribution to mainstream Hindi cinema and his role in shaping the careers of artists who went on to become prominent names.
Kohli had worked on a number of commercial films during his career, establishing himself as a filmmaker associated with mainstream entertainment. His passing marks the loss of a director whose work remains connected with an important period in Hindi cinema.
The tributes from colleagues and former collaborators reflected Kohli’s enduring influence on the industry and the generations of performers he worked with.