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

Time of India

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

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

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'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List 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".

When Chandra Barot struggled to promote Amitabh Bachchan's 'Don' after the producer's death, he settled Nariman Irani's debts after the film became a hit
When Chandra Barot struggled to promote Amitabh Bachchan's 'Don' after the producer's death, he settled Nariman Irani's debts after the film became a hit

Time of India

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

When Chandra Barot struggled to promote Amitabh Bachchan's 'Don' after the producer's death, he settled Nariman Irani's debts after the film became a hit

Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot passed away on Sunday (July 20) at the age of 86. The director had reportedly been battling pulmonary fibrosis. Following his demise, Amitabh Bachchan , who starred in the classic film 'Don' directed by Barot, shared a heartfelt note in his memory. Barot had once spoken about the financial struggles he faced during the release of 'Don' due to the untimely death of its producer. Barot revealed the financial struggles he endured while shooting Don In an old conversation with Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Barot opened up about the challenges 'Don' faced. Producer Nariman Irani passed away six months before the film's release, which significantly affected the production financially. 'Don' had to compete at the box office with major releases like Yash Chopra's 'Trishul', Satyajit Ray's 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi', 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram', and Prakash Mehra's 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar'. As a debut director, Barot had to navigate this competitive landscape without sufficient funds to promote the film. Official confirmation for 'Aankhen 2' soon They had no money for promotion after the producer's death Barot revealed that the film was shot on a shoestring budget of just Rs 25 lakh. After Irani's demise, many aspects of the project were at risk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Casa Maquista chefs explore turmeric's essence in Macanese cuisine. MGTO Undo Initially, the response to 'Don' was underwhelming. Theatres saw low footfall, and the film was almost written off as a flop. However, that changed rapidly, due to its promising music and the power of word-of-mouth publicity. 'It was a big disappointment and declared a flop because not many people turned up. Luckily for me, within a week, the song Khaike Paan Banaraswala became a big hit. Word-of-mouth publicity led to the film becoming a major success from the second week onwards. It ran for 50 weeks in all centres and for 75 weeks in Hyderabad,' Barot recalled. 'Don' became a hit due to its music and word-of-mouth reviews B arot credited music director Babla for delivering a track that ultimately turned the tide for 'Don'. He also acknowledged actor Manoj Kumar, who gave him crucial advice during the film's final cut. Manoj suggested that the film felt too dry and needed a song to lift its appeal. 'Don' was the only film at the time in which Amitabh appeared in a solo lead role, unlike his other projects that featured ensemble casts. This added to Barot's pressure as a first-time filmmaker. Barot offered financial support to the late producer's family After the film became a box office success, Barot and his team made sure that Irani's debts were settled. 'When it became a big hit, we gave the money to Salma Irani, the producer's widow, to settle her husband's debts,' he said. The film also featured Zeenat Aman, Pran, Iftekhar, Om Shivpuri, and Satyen Kappu in key roles.

Director of Amitabh Bachchan's superhit film 'Don' passes away. Who was Chandra Barot?
Director of Amitabh Bachchan's superhit film 'Don' passes away. Who was Chandra Barot?

Time of India

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

Director of Amitabh Bachchan's superhit film 'Don' passes away. Who was Chandra Barot?

Chandra Barot , the director best known for creating the classic Bollywood film Don, passed away at the age of 86. His wife, Deepa Barot, confirmed his death in a statement to the Times of India , explaining that the filmmaker had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years. Throughout this difficult period, Barot received medical attention at Guru Nanak Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Manish Shetty and had previously undergone treatment at Jaslok Hospital as well. From Banking in Africa to Filmmaking in India Barot's entry into the world of Indian cinema followed a highly unconventional path. He was born into a family that, due to political turbulence in the 1930s, settled in Dar-es-Salaam, South Africa. His professional journey initially began far from film sets—he was employed at Barclay's Bank in Tanzania. However, his true calling lay elsewhere. Driven by a deep interest in storytelling, Barot eventually moved to India to pursue his cinematic aspirations. There, he began working alongside renowned filmmaker Manoj Kumar, assisting him on major projects such as Purab Aur Pachhim, which laid the foundation for his future in the film industry. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category 'Don'—A Mission Rooted in Friendship Barot's most iconic work, the 1978 blockbuster Don, was much more than just a film. It was, in many ways, a personal project aimed at helping his close friend, producer Nariman Irani , who was facing financial collapse. In an interview with Rediff , Barot emphasized that Don emerged not only from a place of artistic drive but also from a heartfelt desire to support Irani during one of the darkest periods of his life. Irani was a respected cinematographer, recognized with both the National Film Award and the Filmfare Award for his work on Saraswatichandra (1968). As his career hit a downturn, his friends in the industry stood by him. They came together to create Don, hoping its success would provide Irani with a financial lifeline. Sadly, Irani passed away before he could witness the film's phenomenal success. A Legacy That Sparked a Franchise Released in 1978, Don became one of the year's biggest box office hits and later developed into a celebrated franchise. Javed Akhtar's son, Farhan Akhtar, reimagined the film for modern audiences with Don: The Chase Begins Again in 2006, followed by a sequel, Don 2, in 2011—both starring Shah Rukh Khan. The story's popularity also gave rise to successful South Indian adaptations like Yugandhar in Telugu (1979) and Billa in Tamil (1980), cementing Barot's legacy across Indian cinema.

Two Irani gang members held after shootout in southeast Delhi
Two Irani gang members held after shootout in southeast Delhi

New Indian Express

time3 days ago

  • New Indian Express

Two Irani gang members held after shootout in southeast Delhi

NEW DELHI: Two members of an Irani gang were arrested following a brief exchange of fire in southeast Delhi. They both had come to the city to commit robberies with other gang members. They have been identified as accused Murtaza Ali (38) and Siraj Ali (40), both residents of Bhopal, MP. Two sophisticated pistols, six live cartridges and one stolen motorcycle have been recovered from their possession. The duo were nabbed acting on a tip-off that they would pass through the area opposite Indraprastha Park near the Meerut Expressway T-point. A team comprising Hazrat Nizamuddin police station and a special task force was formed. At around 12.30 am, police intercepted the accused on a motorcycle. The goons opened fire, discharging four rounds at the police team, with one round striking the bulletproof jacket of constable Rajender. In self-defence, police fired three rounds, injuring both accused in their legs. They were shifted to Safdarjung Hospital, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Aishwarya Singh said. The duo are habitual offenders with a history of crime.

Two members of Irani gang, who were plotting robberies in Delhi-NCR, held after shootout : Cops
Two members of Irani gang, who were plotting robberies in Delhi-NCR, held after shootout : Cops

Indian Express

time4 days ago

  • Indian Express

Two members of Irani gang, who were plotting robberies in Delhi-NCR, held after shootout : Cops

Following a brief exchange of fire, two alleged members of the Irani Gang — Murtaza Ali and Siraj Ali — were nabbed on Saturday, said police. Known for their alleged involvement in a series of violent crimes across multiple states, the two accused sustained bullet injuries on their left legs during the encounter, officers said, adding that they are currently undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital. According to the police, the operation was launched based on a tip-off received at Hazrat Nizamuddin police station regarding the movement of armed criminals allegedly planning to commit robberies in the South-East district. The two men were expected to pass through the area opposite Indraprastha Park near the Meerut Expressway T-point, prompting the police team to strategically position themselves and intercept the suspects around 12:30 am on Saturday. 'When confronted and instructed to surrender, both suspects immediately opened fire, discharging four rounds at the police team, with one round striking the bulletproof jacket of Constable Rajender. In a decisive act of self-defense and retaliation, the police fired three rounds, injuring both accused in their left legs. The injured suspects were promptly transported to Safdarjung Hospital for medical treatment,' said Additional DCP (South East), Aishwarya Sharma. A total of seven rounds were exchanged, and seven empty shells were recovered from the scene, said police. Crime and forensic teams conducted a thorough on-site inspection, and a case was registered at the Sunlight Colony police station. During questioning, both men allegedly admitted that they had traveled to Delhi with the intent of committing a series of robberies in collaboration with other gang members in Delhi-NCR. Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the remaining members of the Irani gang, said police. According to the police, Murtaza Ali, 38, a resident of Bhopal, has a long criminal history with 46 cases of robbery, dacoity, and theft registered against him in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. He was released from jail about a year ago. Siraj Ali, 40, also from Bhopal, was previously involved in a case under the Arms Act. He was working as a street vendor selling belts and perfumes.

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