Veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli, best known for launching Ajay Devgn’s career with Phool Aur Kaante, has passed away at the age of 77. He suffered a cardiac arrest on Tuesday evening. His wife, actress Aruna Irani’s spokesperson, has confirmed the news to ETimes.Since Aruna Irani was not in a state of mind to speak, her spokesperson shared details about what had happened.According to the spokesperson, Kuku Kohli felt restless on Monday night and suffered a mild heart attack. He was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital that same night, where he underwent an angioplasty. Everything appeared to be normal after the procedure. However, on Tuesday at around 5:15 pm, he suffered a massive cardiac arrest.Meanwhile, Aruna was on a call with him and exchanging messages, and the two were reportedly in a playful mood. He even told her, “Let’s not go overboard.” Shortly afterwards, however, he began showing signs that something was wrong. After some time, he stopped responding.
Who was Kuku Kohli?
Born Avtar Kohli on June 4, 1949, in Peshawar, Kuku Kohli was a director, writer, editor and screenwriter who spent more than three decades in the Indian film industry. Early in his career, he worked closely with legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, assisting him on films including Bobby, Prem Rog and Satyam Shivam Sundaram, where he honed his craft.He later served as second-unit director on Betaab, the film that launched Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh, and subsequently worked on Arjun, starring Sunny Deol and Dimple Kapadia.His biggest breakthrough came with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991, which marked Ajay Devgn’s debut as a leading actor and went on to achieve diamond jubilee status at the box office.
A career spanning several hits
Following the success of Phool Aur Kaante, Kohli went on to direct several notable films, including Kohraam, starring Dharmendra, and Suhaag, featuring Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Karisma Kapoor.He also directed Haqeeqat, starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Amrish Puri. The film received seven nominations, including a Best Director nomination.His other works included Zulmi, starring Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, and Anari No. 1, which he co-produced with his wife.
Kuku Kohli’s personal life
Kuku Kohli married veteran actress Aruna Irani in 1990. The couple reportedly did not have children together. This was Kohli’s second marriage, and he had two daughters from his first marriage to Rita Kohli.His passing marks the end of an influential chapter in Bollywood’s commercial cinema of the 1990s, an era he helped shape through his collaborations with several leading stars of the time.
