Kuku Kohli, director of Phool Aur Kaante, dies at 77 in Mumbai
Synopsis
Kuku Kohli, the director who gave Bollywood its most iconic debut moment — Ajay Devgn balancing between two motorcycles in Phool Aur Kaante — died on 26 August at 77. His passing closes a chapter on the music-driven, mass-entertainment era that defined Hindi cinema in the 1990s.
Key Takeaways
Veteran director Kuku Kohli passed away on 26 August at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai , aged 77 .
He had been hospitalised two days earlier after suffering a heart attack .
His debut film 'Phool Aur Kaante' ( 1991 ) launched the career of Ajay Devgn and featured actor Aruna Irani .
He subsequently directed Baadshah and Hulchul , among other commercially successful films.
He is survived by his wife Aruna Irani and two children, Pooja and Karishma , from his first marriage to Rita Kohli .
IMPPA President Abhay Sinha and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit were among those who offered condolences.
Veteran Bollywood director Kuku Kohli passed away on Tuesday, 26 August at the age of 77 at Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai, following a heart attack he had suffered two days earlier. The Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) President Abhay Sinha confirmed the news, describing the loss as both sad and shocking.
What Abhay Sinha Said
'Sad and shocking. Director Kuku Kohli passed away today at Kokilaben Hospital. May Waheguruji bless the departed soul,' Abhay Sinha said in a statement. The announcement prompted an outpouring of condolences from across the Hindi film industry.
Industry Condolences
Producer-director Ashoke Pandit shared a throwback photograph with the late director on Instagram, writing in the caption: 'Will miss you Kuku ji. Om Shanti.' Several other film personalities also paid tribute to a filmmaker who had shaped mainstream Bollywood entertainment across the 1990s.
The Man Behind Phool Aur Kaante
Kohli made his directorial debut with 'Phool Aur Kaante' in 1991 — a film that launched the career of superstar Ajay Devgn and also featured his wife, actor Aruna Irani. The film's opening sequence, in which Devgn balances between two moving motorcycles, became one of Hindi cinema's most iconic debut moments and remains closely associated with the actor's arrival in the industry.
He went on to direct commercially successful films including Baadshah and Hulchul, working with leading stars of the era. His films were widely recognised for their emotional storytelling, chart-topping music, and broad mainstream appeal — hallmarks of a period when music-driven romantic dramas and action entertainers ruled the box office.
Family and Survivors
Kohli is survived by his wife, actor Aruna Irani, and two children — Pooja and Karishma — from his first marriage to Rita Kohli. Though his directorial output had grown less frequent in later years, his contributions to Hindi cinema during its most commercially vibrant decade remain a defining part of Bollywood's cultural memory.
With his passing, the industry loses a filmmaker whose work helped launch and shape several prominent careers in Hindi cinema.
Point of View
And that commercial instinct shaped Hindi cinema's trajectory through its most lucrative pre-multiplex years.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Kuku Kohli die?
Kuku Kohli passed away on 26 August at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai following a heart attack he had suffered two days earlier. He was 77 years old at the time of his death.
Who confirmed Kuku Kohli's death?
Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) President Abhay Sinha confirmed the news, describing it as 'sad and shocking' in a public statement. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also paid tribute on Instagram.
Who is Kuku Kohli survived by?
Kuku Kohli is survived by his wife, actor Aruna Irani, and two children — Pooja and Karishma — from his first marriage to Rita Kohli.
What is Kuku Kohli's most famous film?
Kuku Kohli's most celebrated film is Phool Aur Kaante (1991), which marked the directorial debut of Kohli and the acting debut of Ajay Devgn. The film's opening motorcycle-balancing sequence became one of Hindi cinema's most iconic debut moments.
