Mumbai, The Hindi film industry is mourning the death of filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who passed away at the age of 77. Kohli died on Tuesday at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. According to reports, he had suffered a heart attack and was undergoing treatment when his condition deteriorated.
Kuku Kohli will be remembered particularly for playing a significant role in launching Ajay Devgn’s career. Kohli directed the 1991 film ‘Phool Aur Kaante’, which marked Devgn’s debut as a leading actor. The film became a major success and gave Devgn an early breakthrough in Bollywood, paving the way for his long and successful career in Hindi cinema.
Kohli’s journey in the film industry began behind the camera. He started his career as an assistant director and worked with legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. His early experience included working on films such as ‘Bobby’, ‘Prem Rog’ and ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’, where he gained valuable exposure to the craft of filmmaking. He later worked as a second-unit director on films including ‘Betaab’.
Following the success of ‘Phool Aur Kaante’, Kohli went on to direct several commercially successful Hindi films. His notable works included ‘Suhaag’, ‘Haqeeqat’, ‘Zulmi’, ‘Anari No. 1’, ‘Yeh Dil Aashiqana’ and ‘Woh Tera Naam Tha’.
His 1994 film ‘Suhaag’, featuring Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, became particularly popular with audiences. He also directed ‘Haqeeqat’, which starred Ajay Devgn alongside Tabu and Amrish Puri.
Kohli’s contribution to commercial Hindi cinema was particularly significant during the 1990s. His films often combined action, romance, drama and family emotions in a style aimed at a wide audience. While he directed a number of films during his career, ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ remains one of his most enduring works because of its association with the launch of Ajay Devgn.
Kohli’s personal life was also closely connected with the film industry. He was married to veteran actress Aruna Irani. News of his death has prompted condolences and tributes from the film fraternity.
With Kuku Kohli’s death, Hindi cinema has lost a filmmaker associated with an important period in the evolution of mainstream Bollywood. His contribution to the commercial cinema of the 1990s, and particularly his role in giving Ajay Devgn his first major opportunity as a leading actor, will remain an important part of his legacy.
