Madhoo on Kuku Kohli: 'That one phone call made me a star'
Synopsis
Madhoo's tribute to the late Kuku Kohli is a reminder of how much of Bollywood's history rests on a single phone call. The director who launched both Madhoo and Ajay Devgn in 1991's Phool Aur Kaante has passed away at 77 — and his most famous discovery says she still can't believe he's gone.
Key Takeaways
Filmmaker Kuku Kohli passed away at the age of 77 ; his death was confirmed by IMPPA President Abhay Sinha .
Actor Madhoo credited a single phone call from Kohli as the moment that made her ‘an overnight star.’ Kohli directed Phool Aur Kaante ( 1991 ), which marked the Bollywood debut of both Madhoo and Ajay Devgn .
Madhoo revealed she had met Kohli less than a year before his passing, describing him as ‘hale and hearty and happy.’ The film also featured Amrish Puri , Aruna Irani , and Jagdeep and was a major box-office success.
Veteran actor Madhoo has paid an emotional tribute to filmmaker Kuku Kohli, recalling how a single phone call from the director transformed her from an ordinary girl into a Bollywood star overnight. Her remarks came in response to the news of Kohli's passing at the age of 77.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
Madhoo described receiving the filmmaker's call on what was otherwise an unremarkable evening as the defining moment of her career. “And that one phone call from Kuku ji made me a star. I went from being an ordinary girl to becoming an overnight star because of that one phone call I received from him on a random evening,” she said.
The actor also expressed disbelief at Kohli's sudden passing, noting that she had reconnected with him less than a year before his death. “Oh my God, I just heard that he has passed away. I can’t believe it. I met him less than a year ago. In fact, I met him very recently, and he was hale and hearty and happy,” she said.
“After so many years, I had reconnected with him, and we spoke about how we first met and what he thought of me. I just can’t believe it. Life is so unpredictable,” she added.
The Film That Launched Two Careers
Madhoo and Kuku Kohli collaborated on the 1991 action-romance Phool Aur Kaante, which marked the Bollywood debut of both Madhoo and Ajay Devgn. Madhoo played Pooja, the female lead and love interest of Devgn's character. The film went on to become a major box-office success, also featuring Amrish Puri, Aruna Irani, and Jagdeep in supporting roles.
The film remains one of the most celebrated debut vehicles in Hindi cinema, remembered as much for launching two careers as for its commercial impact.
Kohli's Passing Confirmed
The news of Kuku Kohli's death was confirmed by Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) President Abhay Sinha, who expressed grief over the veteran director's demise. Kohli was 77 at the time of his passing. No further details about the cause of death have been officially disclosed.
An Industry Mourns
Kohli's death marks the loss of a filmmaker who shaped careers at a formative moment in 1990s Bollywood. Madhoo's tribute underscores the personal bonds that often define the industry's creative relationships — and how a single decision by a director can alter the arc of an actor's life. Madhoo closed her tribute with a simple prayer: “May he rest in peace. Dear God.”
Point of View
Where a director's phone call carried the weight of an entire future. Kohli's legacy is unusual: he is best remembered not for a body of work but for two debut launches — Madhoo and Ajay Devgn — that went on to define an era. That both artists found mainstream success after Phool Aur Kaante speaks to his instinct for talent. His death at 77, coming so soon after Madhoo had reconnected with him, adds a particular poignancy to a tribute the industry did not expect to give so soon.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Madhoo say about Kuku Kohli's death?
Madhoo expressed shock and disbelief, saying she had met Kohli less than a year before his passing and found him 'hale and hearty and happy.' She credited him with transforming her life through a single phone call that made her 'an overnight star.'
What was Phool Aur Kaante and why is it significant?
Phool Aur Kaante (1991) was a Bollywood action-romance directed by Kuku Kohli that marked the debut of both Madhoo and Ajay Devgn. It became a major box-office success and is remembered as one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated debut vehicles.
Who confirmed Kuku Kohli's death?
The death of Kuku Kohli was confirmed by Abhay Sinha, President of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA), who expressed grief over the veteran director's passing.
Which other actors appeared in Phool Aur Kaante?
Besides Madhoo and Ajay Devgn, the 1991 film featured veteran actors Amrish Puri, Aruna Irani, and Jagdeep in supporting roles.
