Mumbai: Veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli, best known for directing Phool Aur Kaante and giving actor Ajay Devgn his breakthrough, died at the age of 77 on Tuesday, August 25, following a massive heart attack. Kohli breathed his last at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, where he had been receiving treatment.
Kohli’s death has left the Hindi film industry mourning the loss of a filmmaker who played an important role in the careers of several popular actors during the 1990s. His directorial debut, Phool Aur Kaante, released in 1991 and marked Ajay Devgn’s entry into Bollywood. The film became a commercial success and established Devgn as a promising new star.
Kohli was married to veteran actress Aruna Irani, who has been associated with Hindi cinema for several decades. The couple’s relationship was closely followed over the years, but in the immediate aftermath of Kohli’s death, Irani has remained away from public comments as the family comes to terms with the loss.
Kuku Kohli dies after sudden cardiac arrest
Kuku Kohli died on Tuesday evening after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
According to reports, Kohli had begun feeling unwell before his death and was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. His brother-in-law Balraj Irani told India Today that Kohli had been hospitalised a few days earlier after experiencing health problems.
A report quoting Kohli’s friend and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit said that the director had no known prolonged illness and was otherwise in good health before the sudden cardiac event. Pandit described the death as a massive heart attack.
Kohli’s wife’s spokesperson also confirmed his death, with reports stating that Aruna Irani was not in a condition to speak publicly following the loss.
The filmmaker was 77.
Hospitalisation preceded his death
Reports about Kohli’s final hours indicate that he had been admitted to hospital after feeling restless and experiencing a cardiac problem.
According to details shared by Aruna Irani’s spokesperson, Kohli reportedly felt restless on Monday night and suffered a mild heart attack. He was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital, where he underwent angioplasty. His condition appeared stable following the procedure.
However, his condition suddenly deteriorated on Tuesday evening.
He reportedly suffered a massive cardiac arrest at around 5.15 pm. Despite medical attention, he could not be revived.
The sudden nature of his death has added to the shock within the film industry, particularly among colleagues who had worked with him over several decades.
Kuku Kohli launched Ajay Devgn’s film career
Kuku Kohli’s most enduring contribution to Hindi cinema was his role in launching Ajay Devgn.
Kohli made his directorial debut with the 1991 action film Phool Aur Kaante. The movie introduced Ajay Devgn as a leading actor and became a major success.
The film is particularly remembered for Devgn’s dramatic introduction, in which he performed a stunt while balancing with one foot on each of two moving motorcycles.
That entry sequence became one of the most memorable star introductions in Hindi cinema and immediately established Devgn as an action hero.
The film also featured Madhoo, Amrish Puri, Aruna Irani and Jagdeep in important roles.
For Kohli, the success of Phool Aur Kaante provided a strong beginning to his career as a director.
For Devgn, it marked the start of a journey that would eventually make him one of Hindi cinema’s leading actors.
Ajay Devgn remembers the filmmaker
Following Kohli’s death, Ajay Devgn paid tribute to the filmmaker who gave him his first major opportunity.
Devgn expressed gratitude for the faith Kohli had shown in him when he was beginning his career. He acknowledged the important role the director played in shaping his journey in cinema.
The association between the two remained an important part of both their careers.
For many audiences, Kohli’s name continues to be linked with the launch of Devgn, whose career went on to span more than three decades and include numerous successful films.
The director’s contribution to Devgn’s early career is therefore likely to remain one of the most remembered aspects of his professional legacy.
His notable films in the 1990s
After Phool Aur Kaante, Kuku Kohli continued directing films across different genres.
His filmography included Kohraam, Suhaag, Haqeeqat, Anari No. 1 and Zulmi, among others.
The 1994 action film Suhaag brought together Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar, along with Karisma Kapoor and Nagma.
Kohli subsequently reunited with Devgn for Haqeeqat, released in 1995, which also featured Tabu.
In 1999, he directed Anari No. 1, starring Govinda, Raveena Tandon and Simran.
These films established Kohli as a filmmaker associated with mainstream Hindi commercial cinema, particularly during the 1990s.
Kuku Kohli also worked with Akshay Kumar
Kohli collaborated with Akshay Kumar on multiple projects.
The two worked together on Suhaag and later on Zulmi, a 1999 action crime drama.
His association with established actors such as Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar placed Kohli within an important period of Hindi cinema when action-driven commercial films dominated the box office.
His films frequently combined action, romance, family drama and mainstream entertainment.
Although his output became less frequent after the 1990s, his work from that decade continued to be remembered by audiences.
His later directorial work
Kohli directed fewer films in the 2000s.
His later credits included the 2002 romantic action film Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa and Woh Tera Naam Tha, released in 2004.
While these films did not match the cultural impact of Phool Aur Kaante, they marked his continued association with Hindi commercial filmmaking.
Kohli’s career subsequently became less visible in mainstream cinema, but he remained connected with the film industry and continued to be involved in professional organisations.
He had also served as the General Secretary of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, according to filmmaker Ashoke Pandit.
Kuku Kohli’s early association with Raj Kapoor
Before becoming a director, Kuku Kohli worked under the guidance of legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor.
He later assisted director Rahul Rawail on two major films featuring Sunny Deol — Betaab, which marked Deol’s debut in 1983, and Arjun, released in 1985.
These experiences gave Kohli exposure to different aspects of filmmaking before he eventually moved into direction.
His career therefore developed during a period of significant change in Hindi cinema.
By the time he made his directorial debut in 1991, he had already gained experience working alongside established filmmakers and actors.
Marriage to Aruna Irani
Kuku Kohli’s personal life was also closely connected with Bollywood.
He was married to veteran actress Aruna Irani, who appeared in several Hindi films and television productions during her long career.
The two were married in 1990, according to reports. Kohli had previously been married to Rita Kohli, with whom he had two daughters, Pooja and Karishma.
His marriage to Aruna Irani attracted attention over the years because of the circumstances surrounding their relationship.
However, the couple remained together for decades.
Aruna Irani has now been left to mourn the loss of her husband, while Kohli’s two daughters from his first marriage also survive him.
Aruna Irani at the funeral
Kuku Kohli’s funeral was held in Mumbai on August 26.
Aruna Irani attended the funeral and was visibly emotional as she paid her final respects to her husband. Several members of the film fraternity also attended the cremation.
Among those who reportedly attended were actors and filmmakers including Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif and Rohit Shetty.
The emotional scenes at the funeral reflected the grief within the industry following Kohli’s sudden death.
Irani has largely remained out of the public eye following the news, with people close to the family indicating that she has been deeply affected by the loss.
Film industry mourns Kuku Kohli
News of Kohli’s death prompted tributes from several members of the Hindi film fraternity.
His contribution to mainstream cinema during the 1990s has been highlighted by colleagues and actors who worked with him.
For Ajay Devgn in particular, Kohli’s passing represents the loss of the filmmaker who gave him his first opportunity as a leading actor.
The significance of that association was evident in Devgn’s tribute, in which he expressed gratitude for Kohli’s belief in him at the beginning of his career.
The director’s passing has also been described as a loss for the generation of filmmakers and technicians who worked with him during his active years.
A career connected to several Bollywood stars
Kuku Kohli’s filmography brought him into contact with several prominent names in Hindi cinema.
He worked with Ajay Devgn on multiple films and collaborated with Akshay Kumar during a period when both actors were becoming established stars.
His films also featured actors including Karisma Kapoor, Nagma, Tabu, Govinda, Raveena Tandon and Amrish Puri.
This wide network of collaborations reflects the position Kohli occupied in the Hindi film industry during the 1990s.
Although filmmaking styles and audience preferences changed considerably over the following decades, several of his films continue to be remembered by viewers.
Phool Aur Kaante remains his biggest legacy
Among all his films, Phool Aur Kaante remains the title most closely associated with Kuku Kohli.
The film’s success gave Ajay Devgn a major platform and established Kohli as a director capable of delivering commercial entertainers.
Devgn’s motorcycle entry sequence continues to be referenced as one of the actor’s most iconic introductions.
The film also helped establish the action-oriented image that became an important part of Devgn’s early career.
For Kohli, the film remains a defining contribution to Hindi cinema.
His contribution extends beyond one film
Although Phool Aur Kaante remains his best-known work, Kohli’s career cannot be reduced to the launch of one actor.
He directed several commercially oriented films and worked with major stars across the 1990s.
His filmography reflects the changing tastes of Hindi audiences during that period, when action, romance, comedy and family drama were frequently combined within mainstream releases.
His work on films such as Suhaag, Haqeeqat and Anari No. 1 ensured that his name remained associated with commercially successful Hindi cinema.
A sudden loss at 77
Kuku Kohli’s death at 77 has come unexpectedly for many who knew him.
His friend Ashoke Pandit described him as being healthy before the sudden cardiac event, while other reports detailed his hospitalisation and treatment shortly before his death.
The rapid deterioration of his condition has left colleagues and family members shocked.
His death also comes at a time when many filmmakers from the 1980s and 1990s generation are being remembered for their contribution to the evolution of mainstream Hindi cinema.
Kuku Kohli’s legacy in Bollywood
Kohli’s legacy is closely tied to the careers he helped shape and the commercial films he directed.
His biggest contribution remains his decision to cast and launch Ajay Devgn in Phool Aur Kaante.
The actor went on to build an extraordinary career, becoming a National Award-winning performer and one of Bollywood’s most enduring stars.
Kohli also worked with several other leading performers and remained active in industry organisations.
His work may have been concentrated largely in the 1990s, but its influence continues through the actors and films associated with him.
Conclusion
Mumbai: Veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli died at the age of 77 on August 25, 2026, after suffering a massive heart attack at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. His death was confirmed by people close to his family, including his wife Aruna Irani’s spokesperson.
Kohli is best remembered for directing 1991’s Phool Aur Kaante, the film that launched Ajay Devgn’s career as a leading actor. He later directed films including Suhaag, Haqeeqat, Anari No. 1, Zulmi and Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa.
He is survived by his wife, veteran actress Aruna Irani, and two daughters, Pooja and Karishma, from his first marriage. His funeral was held in Mumbai on August 26, with several members of the film industry attending to pay their final respects.
Kuku Kohli’s contribution to Hindi cinema, particularly his role in giving Ajay Devgn his first major break, will remain an important part of his legacy.