Poonam Dhillon mourns Bharathiraja, recalls working on Red Rose and Saverey Wali Gadi
Synopsis
Poonam Dhillon’s tribute to Bharathiraja is a rare window into how the Tamil master shaped Hindi cinema too — directing Rajesh Khanna in Red Rose and Sunny Deol in Saverey Wali Gadi. With Chiranjeevi, Kamal Haasan, Suriya, and CM Stalin all paying respects, his death on 10 June has united Bollywood and Kollywood in grief.
Key Takeaways
Veteran Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja passed away on 10 June following age-related health complications.
Actress Poonam Dhillon worked with him on two films: Red Rose (with Rajesh Khanna) and Saverey Wali Gadi (with Sunny Deol).
Red Rose was a Hindi remake of the Tamil thriller Sigappu Rojakkal .
His funeral in Chennai was attended by Suriya , Kamal Haasan , and Chief Minister M.
Actor Chiranjeevi posted a tribute on X , calling Bharathiraja one of Indian cinema’s ‘greatest storytellers.’
Veteran actress Poonam Dhillon has paid a heartfelt tribute to acclaimed Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja, who passed away on 10 June following age-related health complications, sharing fond memories of collaborating with him on two films. Dhillon described the director as a self-made genius whose creative vision left a lasting mark on everyone who worked with him.
Poonam Dhillon's Tribute
Sharing a throwback clip from their film together, Dhillon wrote: “A tribute to Legendary BharathiRaja a great filmmaker, totally self made genius with God given talent in music & creativity.” She added, “He introduced many actors into Films. I was lucky to work with him in Red Rose with him and ‘Saverey Wali Gadi’ which remains one of my favorite films. His contribution to Cinema is tremendous. May he rest in eternal peace with the Almighty.”
Films They Made Together
Red Rose, directed by Bharathiraja, starred Rajesh Khanna and Poonam Dhillon and was a Hindi remake of the Tamil thriller Sigappu Rojakkal. Saverey Wali Gadi, also helmed by Bharathiraja, featured Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon in the lead roles. Both films stand as a testament to the filmmaker’s ability to bridge Tamil and Hindi cinema.
Funeral and Industry Mourning
Bharathiraja’s funeral was held in Chennai, drawing prominent figures from the South Indian film industry to his residence to pay their final respects. Among those who arrived to offer condolences were actors Suriya and Kamal Haasan, as well as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. The outpouring of grief underscored the filmmaker’s towering stature across generations of Indian cinema.
Tributes Pour In
Across social media, filmmakers and actors mourned Bharathiraja’s passing. Actor Chiranjeevi, in a post on X, wrote: “Indian cinema has lost one of its greatest storytellers, #Bharathiraja garu. He transformed the fragrance of village soil, the beauty of human relationships, the innocence of love, and the emotions of ordinary people into timeless cinematic poetry. His films touched millions of hearts and inspired generations of filmmakers.”
A Legacy That Crossed Languages
Bharathiraja was widely credited with introducing several actors to mainstream cinema and pioneering a rural, earthy aesthetic in Tamil films that influenced an entire generation of directors. His passing marks the end of an era for Indian regional cinema. The film industry’s response — from Chennai to Mumbai — reflects the cross-cultural reach of a filmmaker who told universal stories in a distinctly local voice.
Point of View
A Telugu superstar, and a Tamil Chief Minister all mourning the same man. That breadth of grief is itself the story. Mainstream obituaries tend to frame him as a Tamil filmmaker, but Dhillon’s tribute is a reminder that his influence ran deep into Hindi commercial cinema too, through remakes and direct collaborations that rarely get adequate credit. The question his passing raises is whether the rural, humanist filmmaking tradition he championed has a credible successor in today’s franchise-driven industry.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bharathiraja?
Bharathiraja was a veteran Tamil filmmaker celebrated for his rural storytelling and earthy cinematic aesthetic. He is credited with introducing several actors to mainstream cinema and influencing generations of Indian directors.
When did Bharathiraja pass away?
Bharathiraja passed away on 10 June following age-related health complications. His funeral was held in Chennai, attended by prominent film personalities and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.
Which Hindi films did Bharathiraja direct?
Bharathiraja directed two notable Hindi films: Red Rose, starring Rajesh Khanna and Poonam Dhillon, which was a remake of his Tamil thriller Sigappu Rojakkal; and Saverey Wali Gadi, featuring Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon.
What did Poonam Dhillon say about Bharathiraja?
Poonam Dhillon called him a ‘totally self made genius with God given talent in music and creativity,’ adding that Saverey Wali Gadi remains one of her favourite films. She shared a throwback clip from Red Rose as a tribute.
Who attended Bharathiraja’s funeral?
Actors Suriya and Kamal Haasan, along with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, were among the prominent personalities who attended Bharathiraja’s funeral in Chennai to offer condolences to his family.
