Renowned filmmaker Kuku Kohli passed away today, 25 August at the age of 77 at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. The renowned director, celebrated for delivering massive commercial hits and launching iconic cinematic careers, succumbed to prolonged heart-related ailments. He is survived by his wife, the acclaimed veteran actress Aruna Irani.
Kuku Kohli began his cinematic journey under the strict mentorship of legendary showman Raj Kapoor. Serving as an assistant director on milestone
RK Films productions like Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), and Prem Rog (1982), he absorbed the grand storytelling and musical sensibilities that later became hallmarks of his independent career.
After honing his skills further as a second-unit action director on 1980s blockbusters like Betaab and Arjun, Kohli made a thunderous standalone directorial debut with the 1991 romantic-action masterpiece Phool Aur Kaante. The film achieved diamond jubilee status and famously launched the career of Ajay Devgn.
Throughout the 90s and early 2000s, Kohli remained a reliable force at the box office, helming an array of multi-genre hits including:
Suhaag (1994) – featuring Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn
Haqeeqat (1995) – featuring Ajay Devgn and Tabu
Anari No.1 (1999) – featuring Govinda and Raveena Tandon
Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002) – A musical romance hit
Beyond his box office achievements, Kohli passed on the mentorship he received from Raj Kapoor to the next generation.
Notably, blockbuster filmmaker Rohit Shetty began his cinematic career as an apprentice under Kohli’s direction.
The Indian film fraternity has expressed deep grief over the loss of a filmmaker who defined 1990s mainstream cinema.
News Edit KV Raman
