Veteran Filmmaker Kuku Kohli, Husband of Aruna Irani and Director Who Launched Ajay Devgn, Dies at 77 of Heart Attack
By Sunil Negi
Mumbai, 26 August 2026:
Veteran Bollywood director Kuku Kohli, husband of leading and veteran actress Aruna Irani and the man who launched Ajay Devgn with Phool Aur Kaante, passed away on Tuesday evening after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. He was 77.
Kohli breathed his last at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital at around 5.15 pm.
According to family sources and close friend filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, Kohli had felt restlessness and discomfort on Monday night and suffered a mild heart attack. He was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital the same night where doctors found a blockage and performed an angioplasty with a stent on Monday. The procedure was successful and his condition appeared stable.
On Tuesday afternoon, he was talking to his wife Aruna Irani over phone and exchanging messages in a playful mood. He even told her “Let’s not go overboard.” Shortly after lunch, his condition suddenly deteriorated, he collapsed in the hospital and despite resuscitation attempts, was declared dead.
His brother-in-law Balraj Irani confirmed the news. “He was absolutely fine, and then this evening he suffered a massive heart attack. He was talking to us and just collapsed,” he told media.
Last rites today
The last darshan will be held today, Wednesday, 26 August at 9.30 am at his residence Green Acres, Lokhandwala, and cremation will be held at 11 am at Oshiwara Crematorium, Andheri West. Earlier reports said Thursday, but family has confirmed Wednesday.
He is survived by his wife Aruna Irani, whom he married in 1990, and two daughters Pooja and Karishma from his first marriage to Rita Kohli.
Who was Kuku Kohli?
Born as Avtar Kohli alias Sandesh Kohli on June 4, 1949 in Peshawar, Kuku Kohli was a director, writer, editor and screenwriter who spent over 3 decades in Hindi cinema.
He started his career under legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, assisting him on Bobby, Prem Rog and Satyam Shivam Sundaram. He was the second unit director on Betaab, which launched Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh, and Arjun starring Sunny Deol.
His biggest breakthrough came in 1991 with Phool Aur Kaante, which gave Ajay Devgn his iconic entry balancing on two motorcycles and became a diamond jubilee hit. He then directed Kohraam (1991) with Dharmendra, Suhaag (1994) starring Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar in their first film together along with Karisma Kapoor and Nagma, which was a golden jubilee, Haqeeqat (1995) starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu which earned him Filmfare Best Director nomination, Zulmi (1999), Anari No.1 (1999) with Govinda in double role, Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002) which marked comeback of Nadeem-Shravan, and Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004) as his last directorial.
He was serving as General Secretary of Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) and was active in IMPPA.
The film industry has condoled his death. Ashoke Pandit said, “He had no illness, it was a massive heart attack. He was hale and hearty, food consciousl
