Chandra Barot, the acclaimed director behind Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic 1978 film Don, has sadly passed away at the age of 86 after a prolonged illness.
A Loss for Bollywood
Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot breathed his last on Sunday. His wife, Deepa Barot, shared that he had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years and was admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital.
The news of his passing has deeply saddened the Indian film fraternity, with heartfelt tributes pouring in from numerous stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, Kunal Kohli, and Sanjay Gupta.
Tributes from the Stars
Amitabh Bachchan, who starred as the titular character in Barot’s blockbuster Don, expressed his profound grief on his Tumblr blog. He described Barot as “more a family friend than any else,” highlighting their close bond beyond their professional collaboration.
Filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar, who has taken the reins of the Don franchise, also shared his condolences. Akhtar posted photos of Barot on Instagram, stating, “Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family.”
Director Kunal Kohli, who once assisted Barot, penned an emotional note on X. He revealed that Barot was the only director he had ever assisted, though not on Don, but for an unreleased film called ‘Boss’. Kohli cherished the “enriching experience,” recalling how he would “bunk college and assist Chandraji” and listen to many behind-the-scenes stories of Don. He remembered Barot as a “remarkably sharp man” and a “lovely person.”
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta also took to X, writing, “Rest In Peace Chandra Barot Sir. Many thanks for DON. One of the most entertaining Hindi films ever.”
Chandra Barot’s Cinematic Journey
Chandra Barot’s career in cinema began under the tutelage of actor-director Manoj Kumar. He honed his skills as an assistant director on several classic Hindi films, including Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), Yaadgar (1970), and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974).
While Don remains his most iconic directorial work, Barot also helmed other films like the Bengali feature Aashrita (1989) and Pyar Bhara Dil (1991). He had several other projects in the pipeline, such as Hong Kong Wali Script and Neil Ko Pakadna… Impossible, though these unfortunately never made it to the big screen.
- Chandra Barot directed the iconic 1978 film ‘Don’ starring Amitabh Bachchan.
- He passed away at 86 after a seven-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
- Bollywood legends like Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar, and Kunal Kohli paid emotional tributes.
- Barot began his career as an assistant director on several Hindi classics before his directorial debut.
Chandra Barot’s enduring legacy, particularly his creation of ‘Don’, will continue to be celebrated as a benchmark in Indian cinema, inspiring generations of filmmakers and entertaining audiences worldwide.
