Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 20: Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot, best known for directing the iconic 1978 film Don starring Amitabh Bachchan, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86.

His wife, Deepa Barot, confirmed the news and revealed that he had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years. He was undergoing treatment at Guru Nanak Hospital under the care of Dr Manish Shetty and was previously admitted to Jaslok Hospital.

Farhan Akhtar, who is helming the upcoming Don 3, paid tribute to the late filmmaker on Instagram. "Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family," he wrote.

Chandra Barot made his directorial debut with Don, a film that began as a gesture to support actor-producer Nariman Irani, who faced financial difficulties after the failure of Zindagi Zindagi (1972). Barot roped in writers Salim-Javed for the script, which had earlier been rejected by major stars like Dev Anand, Dharmendra, and Jeetendra.

After Don, Barot directed Bengali films Aashrita (1989) and Pyar Bhara Dil (1991). However, several other projects such as Boss and Neil Ko Pakadna... Impossible were left incomplete or unreleased.

Barot’s legacy lives on through the enduring Don franchise. The 2006 reboot starring Shah Rukh Khan was dedicated to Barot’s original, and a sequel followed. The third installment, currently in the works, features Ranveer Singh and Kriti Sanon in lead roles under the direction of Farhan Akhtar.