Veteran director Kundan Shah, best known for the dark comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, died at his home early on Saturday, family sources said. He was to turn 70 on October 19.
Shah passed away after suffering a heart attack, sources close to the family said.
He had studied direction at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and made his feature film debut in 1983 with the cult classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983).
The film did not become a box office success but Shah received his first and only Indian National Award — Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director — for the movie that went on to become one of the most celebrated dark satirical comedies in the history of Indian cinema.
Shah returned the award during the student protest in his alma mater FTII in 2015.
He made his directorial debut on television in 1986 with the popular series Nukkad.
In 1988, he directed the sitcom, Wagle Ki Duniya, based on cartoonist R.K. Laxman’s character, the common man.
The director made his Bollywood comeback in 1993 with Shah Rukh Khan’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, which went on to become the stepping stone for the actor’s career spanning 25 years.
His next film was Kya Kehna (2000), which also marked the debut of a young Preity Zinta, who plays a teenage mother. It also starred Saif Ali Khan and Chandrachur Singh; the movie became a surprise hit that year.
Though Shah made several films after that, commercial success eluded him. His last film as a director was P Se PM tak in 2014.
TRIBUTES POUR IN
The Bollywood film fraternity took to social media to laud the critically acclaimed filmmaker, with producer Mahesh Bhatt writing on his Twitter account: “A brave man Kundan Shah, who added vigour to the alternate cinema stream with movies like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro has left us.”
Director-choreographer Farah Khan wrote: “Saddened to hear my favourite director Kundan Shah is no more. I learnt a lot from him whilst filming Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na. quiet genius he was [sic].”
Actor, filmmaker Farhan Akhtar wrote: “Saddened to learn that Kundan Shah is no more. Will never forget his genuineness, his cinematic knowledge and his unique sense of humour.”
Director Subhash Ghai said: “Goodbye Kundan Shah. We all FTII and Whistling Woods shall remember you for your great films with us and in history Indian cinema [sic].”
Director Karan Johar said: “RIP Kundan Shah. A cult filmmaker ... A solid story teller.”
— With staff inputs
