The Hindi film industry bid an emotional farewell to veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli on Wednesday, August 26. The director, best known for launching Ajay Devgn as a leading actor with Phool Aur Kaante, passed away at the age of 77 on August 25 following a heart attack. His last rites were performed at the Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai, where several prominent members of the film fraternity gathered to pay their respects.
Among those who attended the funeral were Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Rohit Shetty, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and Sharvari, along with several veteran actors and industry personalities. The emotional atmosphere became particularly poignant as Kuku Kohli’s wife, veteran actress Aruna Irani, was seen struggling with grief during the final farewell.
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Filmmaker | Kuku Kohli |
| Age at Death | 77 |
| Date of Death | August 25, 2026 |
| Cause of Death | Heart attack |
| Funeral Date | August 26, 2026 |
| Funeral Venue | Oshiwara Crematorium, Mumbai |
| Wife | Aruna Irani |
| Best Known For | Phool Aur Kaante |
| Ajay Devgn Connection | Launched him as a leading actor |
| Celebrities Present | Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Rohit Shetty, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and others |
Aruna Irani Bids a Tearful Goodbye
The most emotional moments at the Kuku Kohli funeral involved Aruna Irani. The veteran actress, who was married to Kohli, appeared visibly devastated as she arrived for the final rites. Family members and friends were seen supporting her during the ceremony.
Visuals from the crematorium showed Aruna bidding a final goodbye to her husband. Her grief was evident as she left the venue, making the farewell particularly heartbreaking for those present.
Kuku Kohli and Aruna Irani were married in 1990 and remained together until his death. Kohli also had two daughters, Pooja and Karishma, from his first marriage to Rita Kohli.
Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal and Rohit Shetty Pay Respects
Several well-known Bollywood personalities came to the Oshiwara Crematorium to honour the filmmaker. Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal arrived together, while Vicky’s father and veteran action director Sham Kaushal was also present.
The presence of actors and filmmakers from different generations reflected the impact Kuku Kohli had on the Hindi film industry.
Kuku Kohli’s Journey in Bollywood
Kuku Kohli, whose birth name was Avtar Kohli, began his career as an assistant director and worked with legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. He was associated with films including Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, Prem Rog and Satyam Shivam Sundaram. He later worked with Rahul Rawail as a second-unit director on films such as Betaab and Arjun.
His directorial breakthrough came in 1991 with Phool Aur Kaante. The film introduced Ajay Devgn as a leading actor and became an important milestone in the actor’s career. The movie also featured Madhoo, Amrish Puri, Aruna Irani and Jagdeep.
Kohli later reunited with Ajay Devgn for Suhaag in 1994, which also starred Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor and Nagma. Over the years, he directed films including Haqeeqat, Anari No. 1, Zulmi and Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa. His final directorial venture was Woh Tera Naam Tha in 2004.
Ajay Devgn Remembers His Mentor
Kuku Kohli’s contribution to Ajay Devgn’s career was also remembered following his death. Devgn, who made his leading-actor debut in Phool Aur Kaante, paid tribute to the filmmaker, expressing gratitude for the faith Kohli had placed in him at the beginning of his journey.
For an industry that knew Kuku Kohli through several decades of Hindi cinema, his passing marks the end of an important chapter. His films, particularly Phool Aur Kaante, remain part of Bollywood history, while the emotional farewell attended by stars from different generations showed the respect he continued to command.
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