Film & TV fraternity pays emotional farewell to Dheeraj Kumar
The Indian entertainment fraternity gathered for the prayer meet of veteran actor, producer and director
Dheeraj Kumar
, honouring his immense contribution to cinema and television. Bollywood legends
Hema Malini
and
Jackie Shroff
were among the many who attended, along with Poonam Dhillon,
Rakesh Bedi
, Mukesh Rishi, Deepak Parashar, Tej Sapru, Ramesh Goyal, Raza Murad, Tinaa Ghaai, Vidhi Ghai, and Surendra Pal.
(Poonam Dhillon at the prayer meet)
Also present were producer Ganesh Jain, singers Padma Shri Soma Ghosh and Madhushree, Eisha Singh, Shehzad Khan, producer Manish Goswami, and Kobbi Soshani, Consul General of Israel. Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, Munmun Dutta, Ashoke Pandit, Kripa Shankar Singh, and B.N. Tiwari (President, FWICE) paid their respects. Close family friend Dr. Dharmendra Kumar and Sunil Gupta, CFO of Creative Eye Ltd.,
were also in attendance.
The gathering reflected the deep admiration Dheeraj Kumar inspired across generations. Known for his 70s and 80s films and for producing meaningful, family-centric shows, he was widely regarded as a visionary with 'unwavering integrity.'
Condolences were extended to his wife Zuby Kochar and family members Inder Kochar and Ashutosh Kochar, as the industry stood united in honoring his life and legacy.
Emotional farewell: Industry icons salute Dheeraj Kumar one last time
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
24 minutes ago
- News18
Dhanush Says Aanand L Rai Invested Own Money To Cast Him In Raanjhanaa: 'They Didn't Have Budget'
Last Updated: Dhanush reveals he nearly turned down Raanjhanaa due to budget issues, and shares how director Aanand L Rai personally backed him to play Kundan. Dhanush might be a big name in Tamil cinema, but back in 2013, when he was gearing up for his Bollywood debut with Raanjhanaa, things weren't exactly smooth sailing. In fact, he nearly walked away from the film altogether. The actor recently looked back on the film during a special fan screening celebrating its 12th anniversary. While Raanjhanaa became a cult favourite over the years, Dhanush admitted that he was close to saying no – and it all came down to the budget. 'At that time, they didn't have the right kind of budget for hiring me as the lead actor. But this man's (Aanand L Rai) passion was so strong that he just wanted me to play Kundan. He could have offered any actor this part and they would have happily come on board. After all, it's such a great part," Dhanush shared, as quoted in SCREEN. The part he's talking about – Kundan – was a lovestruck Varanasi boy whose obsession and heartbreak eventually pull him into the world of politics. According to him, director Aanand L Rai had to take a big risk to make it happen. 'He went against all odds. I don't know I am supposed to say this and I don't care! He invested his own money as well. He went all out (to cast me). He saw Kundan in me and he stayed true to his vision," Dhanush said. Even for a seasoned performer like Dhanush, the pressure was real. He revealed that stepping into the Hindi film world brought a kind of fear he hadn't experienced before. 'I was not scared during my first film. When I was written off, I was not scared. That's how I am. But for the first time, I was scared. I felt responsible. So, I was praying so hard to God that 'Somehow save this man,'" he said, reflecting on the weight of expectations. In the end, the gamble paid off. Raanjhanaa clicked with audiences and critics alike. 'They made a cult classic. It is not the story of Kundan and Zoya. It is the story of two mad men who believed in this," Dhanush added. The film also starred Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Swara Bhaskar and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and became a defining moment in Aanand L Rai's directorial career. Since Raanjhanaa, Dhanush and Aanand L Rai have teamed up again, including in the 2021 film Atrangi Re, and are working together on Tere Ishq Mein – a film Rai has said is set in 'the same world as Raanjhanaa." Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Edelweiss CEO and Shark Tank India judge Radhika Gupta calls out Dior for no credit to India for Mukaish Overcoat: Says, time to ...
Radhika Gupta (ANI) Edelweiss CEO and Shark Tank India judge Radhika Gupta has once again called a luxury brand. After Prada, Gupta has now critised luxury fashion brand Dior for allegedly failing to give credit to India for its traditional 'Mukaish' embroidery. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Gupta has publicly criticised Dior for selling Rs 1.7 crore ($200,000) overcoat with Lucknowi Mukaish embroidery without acknowledging the Indian artisans . Gupta's public statement on social media highlights a growing demand for global brands to acknowledge the origins and artisans behind traditional crafts. Read Radhika Gupta's social media post here In the post Gupta expressed her frustration over what she called 'blatant cultural appropriation ,' revealing that the intricate embroidery was crafted by 12 Indian artisans over 34 days, yet the brand gave no credit, no context, and no mention of India 'One more handloom, one more headline. Dior sells a $200K coat using Lucknowi mukaish embroidery. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo 12 Indian artisans. 34 days of work. No credit. No context. No mention of India. The world loves Indian craftsmanship — But rarely credits the craftspeople. And almost never shares the value. Because the branding, storytelling, and pricing power stay elsewhere. The hand that creates remains invisible. Culture is soft power. Japan did it with design. Korea did it with pop culture. India must do it with craft. From sourcing destination to storytelling nation. A home of global brands. The lion has to come out. And roar,' wrote Gupta. Edelweiss Mutual Fund CEO Radhika Gupta on Prada Kolahpuris controversy This is not the first time that Radhika Gupta has called out a luxury fashion brand. Recently, the Edelweiss CEO criticised Prada for showcasing scandals that resemble closely to India's traditional Kolhapuri chappals. Gupta has criticised Prada for not giving the due credit to the original artisans. Her remarks soon went viral on social media calling for the recognition and preservation of India's textile heritage . Gupta shared a post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in which she criticised Prada. '500 rupee chappal sold for 1 lakh, without any credit! This is why I am obsessed with wearing and talking about handlooms. Every child knows who Prada and Gucci are, but very few in a room know a Himroo, Sambalpuri or Narayanpet. Our textile heritage and craftsmanship is for us to preserve, brand and benefit from. As for Prada... Remember that till the lion learns to write, all stories will always glorify the hunter.' wrote Gupta. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India.com
41 minutes ago
- India.com
'If he was at my home...', Jaya Bachchan once wanted to slap Shah Rukh Khan because of Aishwarya Rai, the reason was...
'If he was at my home...', Jaya Bachchan once wanted to slap Shah Rukh Khan because of Aishwarya Rai, the reason was... Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai are the two most iconic stars in Indian cinema, known for their impeccable talent and fascinating collaboration. The two shard unforgettable on-screen chemistry in films like Josh (2000) and Devdas (2002). However, after that, they eventually had a dramatic fallout that became a topic of intrigue among fans and media. In early 2000s, their relationship took a surprising turn and even led Jaya Bachchan to intervene and express her anger publicly. In early 2000s, Despite Aishwarya Rai collaborating with Shah Rukh Khan in two films, she was removed from several projects with him, including Chalte Chalte and Veer Zaara. Addressing the fallout, Aishwarya expressed that it impacted her career, though Shah Rukh later offered an apology, and things eventually sorted out. However, the matter didn't just stay between Shah Rukh and Aishwarya- it also caused ripples within the Bachchan family. In a 2008 interview with People Magazine, Jaya Bachchan expressed her disappointment for remarks SRK made on Aishwarya. Expressing her feelings, the veteran actor said, 'Of course, I do. I haven't had the opportunity to discuss it with him and I am going to speak to him about it. If he was at my home, I would have slapped him, just as I would my own son. But I have connected with him in my soul, and that's it.' Despite being angry, she admitted, 'I have a weakness for Shah Rukh.' Shah Rukh Khan's absence at Aishwarya and Abhishek's wedding in 2007 also caused rumours of lingering tensions. Reports claim, that there weren't on talking terms after their infamous fallout on the sets of Chalte Chalte. Jaya Bachchan candidly responded to this, 'Is Aishwarya going to invite him for the wedding? Let me tell you, very honestly, if we could have invited him, we would have changed the date of the wedding. I would like to give my family the freedom and the space.'
