Hrishikesh Mukherjee passes away

Courtesy: IndiaFM
Monday, August 28, 2006
Veteran Indian filmmaker and legend Hrishikesh Mukherjee passed away on Sunday at Leelavati hospital in Mumbai. He was 84.

Hrishida as he was fondly known in the industry had been suffering for quite some time. He had been hospitalized for the past couple of months following chronic renal failure, pneumonia and sepsis.

Hrishida made some of the best known films known to Indian cinema including Anand, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Khoobsurat, etc. His last film was the Anil Kapoor-Juhi Chawla starrer Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate in 1998.

Producer Romu Sippy who was associated with Mukherjee in movie like Sadma, Guddi and Golmaal said, "He was like a member of the family. So just for the film industry, it is a personal loss as well. Our association goes back as far as 1964. He was like a member of the family. I was there in the evening with Gulzar when he passed away."

Veteran actor A. K. Hangal who worked with Mukherjee in films like Bawarchi, Alaap and Abhimaan was quite upset over the incident. "He was a progressive man of the Indian film industry. He gave birth to the excellent comedy films. It's because of him I am here in the film industry. He gave such roles and made me what I am today. He used to call me Munna and when I went to meet him at Leelavati Hospital, I cried as I felt bad to see him in that situation. I think it's not just a loss of Indian film industry but also a great loss of a wonderful era.", said he.

Funeral details are awaited as Hrishada's son is supposed to arrive from the U.S. soon.

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