Filmmaker Kuku Kohli Cremated in Mumbai; Bollywood Pays Tribute

Veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli was cremated in Mumbai on Wednesday, a day after he passed away at the age of 77 following a heart attack. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in the city, where he died on Tuesday.

The final rites were held at the Oshiwara Crematorium. The funeral procession began at 10 am from his residence in the Lokhandwala Complex area of Andheri West.

His wife, veteran actor Aruna Irani, was seen in tears as she arrived to bid him a final farewell. The couple's long and celebrated journey in the film industry was remembered by those who gathered to mourn the loss.

Several prominent figures from the Hindi film industry came to pay their respects, including actors Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, and Rajpal Yadav, as well as filmmaker Rohit Shetty and lyricist Javed Akhtar. Actor Gajendra Chauhan, along with FWICE President BN Tiwari and Vice President Ashok Dubey, were also present at the crematorium.

Actor Raza Murad, a close friend and schoolmate, shared memories of Kohli. He recalled that Kohli, known as Avtar Kohli during his school days, was two years his senior at St Theresa's High School in Bandra. Murad spoke of Kohli's early career as an assistant director to Raj Kapoor at RK Studios and later as an associate of Rahul Rawail, with whom they worked on the film 'Gunaahgar'.

Murad also remembered working with Kohli on his directorial debut, 'Phool Aur Kaante', a film that launched Ajay Devgn's career and became a major commercial success. He described Kohli as a low-profile person who was not media-savvy and spoke very little.

Expressing concern for Aruna Irani, Murad noted the importance of companionship in old age, saying that losing it can lead to profound loneliness. He mentioned that Kohli seemed perfectly healthy when they recently attended a memorial service together, reflecting on the unpredictability of life.

Kohli's directorial career included notable films such as 'Suhaag' (1994), 'Haqeeqat', 'Zulmi', 'Anari No. 1', and 'Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa'. His last directorial venture was 'Woh Tera Naam Tha', released in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Aruna Irani, and two daughters, Pooja and Karishma, from his first marriage to Rita Kohli.