Key Highlights

  • Ajay Devgn mourned the death of filmmaker Kuku Kohli, the director who launched him in 'Phool Aur Kaante' (1991).
  • Kuku Kohli passed away in Mumbai on Tuesday at the age of 77 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
  • Ajay wrote: "Some people change the course of your life forever. Kuku ji was one of those people for me."
  • Veteran actress Aruna Irani, married to Kuku Kohli since 1990, was seen visibly bereaved at the funeral.
  • Rohit Shetty, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif and Raza Murad were among those who attended the final rites.

Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn on Wednesday mourned the passing of veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli, the director who gave him his first break in Hindi cinema with 'Phool Aur Kaante'. In an emotional social media tribute, Ajay remembered Kohli as a mentor whose belief in him at the start of his journey altered the trajectory of his life.

Sharing a picture of the filmmaker, Ajay wrote, "Some people change the course of your life forever. Kuku ji was one of those people for me. Forever grateful for the faith you had in me. You will be deeply missed, Kuku ji. Om Shanti."

A Sudden Loss for the Industry

Kuku Kohli passed away in Mumbai on Tuesday at the age of 77 after suffering a cardiac arrest. His demise has left the film fraternity in mourning, particularly those who worked with him during the 1990s and early 2000s — a period when his brand of action-romance cinema defined mainstream Hindi entertainment. Over the course of his career, he directed a string of popular films including 'Phool Aur Kaante', 'Suhaag', 'Haqeeqat', 'Zulmi', 'Anari No. 1' and 'Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa'.

The Film That Made Ajay Devgn a Star

Kohli played a defining role in shaping Ajay Devgn's career by casting him as the lead in 'Phool Aur Kaante', which released in November 1991. The action-romance not only marked Ajay's debut as a leading man but also went on to become a commercial success. The now-legendary introduction sequence — in which Ajay is seen performing a split while standing between two moving motorcycles — remains one of the most iconic debut moments in Hindi cinema and is still referenced across generations of viewers.

Ajay and Kohli later reunited for 'Suhaag', which also featured Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor and Nagma — cementing a professional bond that Ajay clearly held close.

Aruna Irani, Bereaved and Emotional at the Funeral

Kuku Kohli's personal life had long been intertwined with veteran actress Aruna Irani. The two married in 1990, and their relationship remained largely private for years, partly because Kohli had been previously married and had two daughters from his earlier marriage.

At the funeral in Mumbai on Wednesday, Aruna was seen visibly bereaved as she arrived at the crematorium. Dressed in white, the veteran actress appeared emotional and had to be helped as she made her way toward the venue — a moment that quietly underscored the depth of a partnership that had spanned more than three decades.

The Industry Turns Up to Pay Its Respects

Several personalities from the Hindi film fraternity arrived to pay their final respects to the filmmaker. Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, along with actors Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif and Raza Murad, were among those spotted at the funeral — a cross-generational turnout that reflected Kohli's long-standing footprint in the industry.

Revisiting 'Phool Aur Kaante'

'Phool Aur Kaante', released in November 1991, was an action-romance drama that starred Ajay Devgn opposite Madhoo, and featured Amrish Puri, Aruna Irani, Jagdeep and Raza Murad in key roles. Its music, composed by the immensely popular Nadeem-Shravan duo, became a defining soundtrack of the era. Songs like "Maine Pyar Tumhi Se Kiya Hai", "Tumse Milne Ko Dil Karta Hai", "Premi Aashiq Aawara" and "Dheere Dheere Pyar Ko Badhana Hai" remain memorable tracks even today.

Why It Matters

Kuku Kohli's legacy sits at an interesting intersection of Bollywood history — he wasn't just a successful commercial director; he was the man who spotted, backed, and launched a young Ajay Devgn at a moment when the industry was still discovering what its next generation of stars would look like. Every action set piece Ajay has headlined since arguably traces back to that first split between two motorcycles.

The Bigger Picture

Ajay Devgn's tribute is more than a farewell. It's a reminder of how much of Bollywood's superstardom rests on the quiet, career-defining gambles taken by directors who choose to believe in newcomers. In losing Kuku Kohli, the industry has lost one of those believers — and one of the men who helped shape the modern face of Hindi action cinema.