Chandra Barot, original ‘Don' director, passes away at 86

Time of India

20-07-2025

Mumbai: Film director
Chandra Barot
, best known for the blockbuster classic, Don (1978), which prompted multiple remakes in southern languages and spawned a series of sequels decades later, passed away due to medical complications at Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra (east) on Sunday.
He was 86.
"My husband was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years. He died due to a cardiac arrest at 6.30 am,'' his wife Deepa Barot told TOI.
Barot also directed the Bengali superhit, 'Ashrita' (1990), starring Mithu Mukherjee.
Barot's family lived in Tanzania, but was forced to come back to India following racial conflicts in the East African country in the 1960s. His sister, Kamal Barot, was a playback singer in Bollywood.
He assisted Bollywood biggie Manoj Kumar in films such as 'Purab Aur Pachhim', 'Shor' and 'Roti Kapada Aur Makaan'.
The making of the original 'Don' is a legendary Bollywood tale. Barot's cinematographer-producer friend, Nariman Irani, was reeling under a debt of nearly Rs 12 lakh after his first film as producer, 'Zindagi Zindagi', had flopped. Barot offered to help. He was friendly with
Amitabh Bachchan
and
Zeenat Aman
having worked with them in 'Roti Kapada Aur Makaan'.
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Undo
They all decided to work in 'Don' to help Irani. Tragically, Irani passed away in 1977, before Don could hit the screen. Amitabh Bachchan, who won the Best Actor Filmfare award, dedicated the award to Irani and his wife.
In the 1970s, 'Don' was an unusual title for Hindi films. Barot's mentor, Manoj Kumar, had asked him with a quizzical tone if he was making some film called ``Down''! Barot explained that it was a Spanish word `Don' which actually meant `gentleman'.
Kumar understood and suggested that the pacy second-half needed a song. The advice led to the birth of the chartbuster, 'Khai ke paan Benaraswala.'
Don, which celebrated platinum jubilee, was remade in Tamil as Billa (1980) with Rajinikanth as hero. A year earlier, NT Rama Rao was the lead in Yugandhar, the film's Telugu version. In Malayalam, the film was remade as Shobharaj (1986) with Mohan Lal in lead. Later director Farhan Akhtar reinterpreted the movie in Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006) and Don 2: The Chase Continues.
Several Bollywood personalities such as Farhan and Kunal Kohli mourned his passing on social media. "Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family,'' posted Farhan.
On a rainy Sunday, Barot's last rites were carried out at the Kherwadi based Hindu crematorium in Bandra (east). It was a low-key affair attended by his family members and some relatives. As the final rites took place, one could not help but recall a Barot remark he made years ago: "I will be remembered as the man who made Don".