Bollywood filmmaker Kuku Kohli dies at 77

Talking about his equation wiith Kuku Kohli, Ashoke Pandit shared, “Apart from being a great technician who launched Ajay Devgn in his film Phoola Kaate, he has a legacy. He worked with Raj Kapoor for the longest time; he was an assistant director. He was a great filmmaker, great thinker, great technician and a great human being. I also had a working relationship with him as he was also the General Secretary of IFTDA and IMPPA. During the IFTDA days, we used to meet quite often. He never said no to anything. In any situation, he was always there to help. He was also very active with his old age home in Lonavala. A socially committed person.”

He added, “I am totally broken today. I really lost a very close friend.”

Kuku Kohli with wife Aruna Irani. (Express archive photo)

Kuku Kohli’s career and life

Kuku Kohli made inroads into Bollywood under the tutelage of legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, and then assisted Rahul Rawail in two blockbusters starring Sunny Deol — the actor’s 1983 debut Betaab and his 1985 film Arjun.

Kohli later made his directorial debut with the 1991 action thriller Phool Aur Kaante, which marked the debut of Ajay Devgn. Also starring Madhoo and Aruna Irani, among others, the hit film featured Devgn’s iconic entry scene, in which he stands with one foot on each of two moving bikes. The filmmaker followed it up with the 1991 action adventure film Kohraam, starring Dharmendra.

Kuku Kohli scored another silver jubilee film with the 1994 action film Suhaag, starring Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor, and Nagma, among others. He reunited with Devgn for the 1995 action film Haqeeqat, also starring Tabu. Another hit followed in the form of the 1999 comedy Anari No. 1, starring Govinda, Raveena Tandon, and Simran.

Kohli then reunited with Akshay Kumar for the 1999 action crime drama Zulmi, also starring the actor’s future wife Twinkle Khanna. He’s helmed only two films in the new millennium — 2002 romantic action thriller Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa and Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004).

Kuku Kohli was previously married to Rita Kohli, with whom he has two children – producer Pooja Kohli and filmmaker Karishma Kohli, who’s best known for co-directing the 2022 mystery Netflix family drama series The Fame Game, starring Madhuri Dixit. Kohli then married Aruna Irani in 1990, and the couple has no children.

Kuku Kohli’s last rites will be held at the Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbati at 11 am.