Veteran filmmaker Lekh Tandon, who directed iconic films such as Amrapali, Professor and Jahan Pyaar Mile, died on Sunday. He was 88.
Tandon died at his residence in Powai in the presence of his family.
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted, “Sad to know about the demise of one of the finest TV and film directors Lekh Tandon ji. Your work is immortal. Will miss U. #RIP”.
Pandit said that Tandon was bedridden for the last five to six months.
Born in Lahore in 1929, Tandon directed many Bollywood stalwarts like Shammi Kapoor (Professor, 1962; Prince, 1969), Rajender Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Rekha, Rajesh Khanna to name a few. His Amrapali (1966), featuring Sunil Dutt and Vyjayanthimala, was selected as India’s entry for the best foreign language film at the 39th Academy Awards.
He also bagged Filmfare Best Screenplay Award for his movie Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye, along with Vrajendra Gaur and Madhusudan Kalekar in 1978.
He directed his first television serial Dil Dariya in 1988, through which he was also credited for discovering Shah Rukh Khan.
Tandon also acted in films like Swades, Chennai Express and Rang De Basanti, among others.
