chandra barot dies

                       chandra barot

              (passed away on 20July 2025)

                                

                                   

 Chandra Barot, the veteran Indian filmmaker renowned for directing the iconic 1978 Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Don, passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the age of 86. His wife, Deepa Barot, confirmed the news, stating he had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years. He was reportedly receiving treatment at Guru Nanak Hospital and had previously been admitted to Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai.

While specific details about his exact hometown aren't widely publicized, Barot worked primarily in the Hindi film industry, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. His cinematic journey began in an unconventional way; born into a family that had moved to Dar-es-Salaam, South Africa, he initially worked at Barclay's Bank in Tanzania. However, his passion for cinema brought him to India, where he started his career as an assistant director.

Barot served as an assistant director on several notable films by Manoj Kumar, including Purab Aur Pachhim (1970), Yaadgaar (1970), Shor (1972), and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974).

His directorial debut, Don (1978), became his most significant contribution to Indian cinema. The film's creation was a personal mission for Barot, driven by a desire to help his close friend and cinematographer-producer Nariman Irani, who was facing financial difficulties. Despite immense budget constraints, Barot, along with the dedicated efforts of Amitabh Bachchan, Pran, Salim-Javed (the renowned screenwriting duo), and Zeenat Aman, painstakingly worked for over three years to bring the film to fruition. Don achieved cult status and remains a landmark in Bollywood, inspiring numerous remakes and sequels.

After Don, Barot directed the Bengali film Aashrita (1989) and the Hindi film Pyar Bhara Dil (1991). He also had some shelved projects like Hong Kong Wali Script and Neil Ko Pakadna....Impossible.

Chandra Barot will be remembered for his quiet determination and, most notably, for creating a film that not only became a blockbuster but also left an indelible mark on the landscape of Indian popular culture.