RIP: Rajkumar Kohli (Veteran Bollywood Filmmaker) Passed Away at 93

Mumbai, Nov 24 (PTI) – Veteran Bollywood filmmaker and producer Rajkumar Kohli, known for directing some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable movies in the 1980s and 1990s, passed away on Friday morning following a heart attack. He was 93.

Rajkumar Kohli’s Early Life and Background

Kohli was born in Lahore in 1930. He made a name for himself by directing hits such as ‘Nagin’ and ‘Jaani Dushman’ which went on to become cult classics.

Rajkumar Kohli Movies

Notable Directorial Ventures

• Raaj Tilak (1984)
• Waqt Ki Awaz (1988)
• Qahar (1997)
• Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani (2002) starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Manisha Koirala

Work as a Producer

As a producer, Kohli backed films like:

• Hifazat (1987)
• His son Armaan Kohli’s debut Virodhi (1992)
• 2002 horror film Jaani Dushman

Reactions from Bollywood Personalities

Several Bollywood personalities took to social media to offer condolences:

• “Om Shanti Rajkumar Kohli saab. Thank you for the iconic Jaani Dushman, where my career as a main lead heroine started under your direction,” actress Manisha Koirala tweeted.
• Filmmaker Anil Sharma said Kohli understood the pulse of the audience like no other.
• Actor Arbaaz Khan said Kohli had an uncanny understanding of entertainment that catered to the masses.

Kohli is survived by

• Wife Santosh Kohli
• Sons Armaan Kohli and Kanishk Kohli

His funeral will take place on Saturday.

Celebs Pay Last Respects to Rajkumar Kohli

As news of Kohli’s demise spread, several celebs like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Prem Chopra arrived at the late director’s residence to pay their last respects and meet the bereaved family members.

Tributes from Film Bodies

Film associations CINTAA and IFTDA also mourned Kohli’s passing:

• “IFTDA mourns the loss of legendary filmmaker Rajkumar Kohli. His contribution to Indian cinema has been immense and he will be missed dearly,” IFTDA joint-secretary Ashoke Pandit said.

Rajkumar Kohli’s Legacy and Impact

Rajkumar Kohli was one of those filmmakers who kept the flag of B-grade, pulp cinema flying high. With his unique recipes of films that blended horror, reincarnation, mythology and drama, Kohli understood the pulse of the single-screen audience better than most.

As Hindi cinema evolves over the ages, entertaining and memorable movies like ‘Nagin’, and ‘Jaani Dushman’ will always be a testament to Kohli’s directorial prowess and his innate understanding of what it takes to draw audiences to cinema halls.

Though he is no more, his cinematic legacy shall inspire generations of filmmakers and storytellers in times to come.