The Hindi film industry is mourning the death of filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who passed away in Mumbai at the age of 77. His death has brought together actors, filmmakers and other members of Bollywood who remembered him for his work and his contribution to mainstream Hindi cinema.

Kohli died on August 25 after suffering a heart attack. His funeral was held in Mumbai the following day, with several well-known names from the film industry attending to pay their final respects.

Among those who remembered the filmmaker was Salman Khan. The actor expressed his grief over Kohli’s death and offered support to veteran actress Aruna Irani, Kohli’s wife. Salman’s message focused on the family’s loss and extended his strength to Irani during a difficult time.

The filmmaker’s death also prompted tributes from several other members of the industry. Actors, directors and colleagues gathered at his last rites, remembering a man who had been part of Bollywood for several decades.

Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, Rohit Shetty, Rajpal Yadav and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit were among those who paid their respects. Their presence reflected Kohli’s long association with the Hindi film industry and the relationships he built during his career.

For many Bollywood viewers, Kohli’s name is closely linked with Phool Aur Kaante, the 1991 film that introduced Ajay Devgn as a leading actor. The film became a major success and gave Devgn a strong beginning in Hindi cinema.

Kohli and Devgn went on to work together again, including on Haqeeqat and Suhaag. Their professional association became one of the most recognised collaborations of Kohli’s career.

Devgn also remembered Kohli after his death, acknowledging the filmmaker’s faith in him at a crucial stage of his career. For the actor, Kohli was not simply the director of his first film but someone who played an important role in shaping the path he eventually took in Bollywood.

Kohli went on to direct a number of commercially successful Hindi films during the 1990s and early 2000s. His filmography included Suhaag, Haqeeqat, Anari No. 1, Zulmi and Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa.

His films largely followed the popular Bollywood style of the period, bringing together action, romance, family emotions, comedy and music. The stories were designed for a wide audience and often featured some of the biggest stars of the time.

Suhaag, for instance, brought Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar together, while Anari No. 1 featured Govinda and Raveena Tandon. These films helped Kohli establish himself as a director of mainstream entertainers.

His final directorial film was Woh Tera Naam Tha, released in 2004. After that, he largely stayed away from regular filmmaking, but he remained connected to the industry and continued to be remembered by actors and colleagues.

Kohli’s personal life was also closely connected to Bollywood. He was married to Aruna Irani, one of Hindi cinema’s veteran actresses. Irani has enjoyed a long career across films and television and has been part of the industry for several decades.

She was seen at Kohli’s funeral as family members and friends gathered to bid farewell to the filmmaker. The loss marked a deeply personal moment for the actress, who had shared a long relationship with him.

Kohli is also survived by his two daughters, Pooja and Karishma, from his earlier marriage.

Beyond his films, colleagues remembered Kohli for his personality and working style. Actress Madhoo, who worked with him, described him as an easy-going director. Such memories have added a personal dimension to the tributes following his death.

Kohli began his career behind the scenes before moving into direction. His breakthrough with Phool Aur Kaante established him at a time when Bollywood was going through major changes in its storytelling and star culture.

The success of that film also made him an important figure in the early career of Ajay Devgn. The actor went on to become one of the industry’s leading stars, while Kohli continued making commercial films with established performers.

His career may not have been as long as that of some of his contemporaries, but his films remain familiar to audiences who grew up watching Hindi cinema in the 1990s. His work reflected an era when theatrical entertainment depended heavily on stars, songs, action sequences and emotional storytelling.

The industry’s response to his death has therefore been about more than remembering a filmmaker. It has also been a reflection on a period of Bollywood that produced some of the decade’s popular entertainers.