Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot, best known for directing the 1978 cult classic Don starring Amitabh Bachchan, passed away at the age of 86 in Mumbai. The news was confirmed by his wife, Deepa Barot, who shared that the filmmaker had been battling pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease, for the past seven years. He breathed his last at Mumbai’s Guru Nanak Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment under the supervision of Dr. Manish Shetty. Earlier, he had also received treatment at Jaslok Hospital.
Barot, originally from Tanzania, began his professional journey at Barclays Bank before moving to India in 1967 amid political unrest. Once in Mumbai, he transitioned into the film industry with guidance from actor-director Manoj Kumar. He started as an assistant director on several landmark films including Purab Aur Pachhim, Yaadgaar, Shor, and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, before making his directorial debut.
His most celebrated work, Don, was initially met with a lukewarm response but turned into a box-office sensation following the release of the song “Khaike Paan Banaraswala” and strong word-of-mouth. The film became a milestone in Indian cinema, setting the stage for future remakes and spin-offs, including the Shah Rukh Khan-led reboot in 2006 and the upcoming Don 3 by Farhan Akhtar. Despite his success with Don, many of Barot’s later projects remained unreleased, including Neil Ko Pakadna… Impossible and Hong Kong Wali Script.
Barot also directed the Bengali feature film Aashrita in 1989 and the Hindi film Pyar Bhara Dil in 1991. His legacy as a storyteller and trailblazer in the crime-thriller genre remains unmatched. Tributes poured in from across the industry, with filmmaker Farhan Akhtar calling him the original “OG Don” in a heartfelt social media post.
