Veteran producer and director Johnny Bakshi passed away on Saturday after suffering cardiac arrest at a hospital here. He was 82 years old. Bakshi was admitted to Arogya Nidhi Hospital in suburban Juhu on Friday morning after he complained of shortness of breath. They tested him for Covid-19, which came back negative.
“Yesterday he was hospitalized for lack of air and they put him on a ventilator. The COVID-19 test was performed and it came back negative. He passed away between 1:30 and 2:00 am due to cardiac arrest, ”Bakshi’s daughter Priya told PTI. The last rites of the filmmaker were performed on Saturday in a crematorium here in the presence of family members.
In his career of more than four decades, Bakshi worked primarily as a producer, backing such films as Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain, (1974), Raavan, (1984) and Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993). He has also directed two films, Daku Aur Police (1992) and Khudai (1994), starring Rajesh Khanna at the helm.
Bakshi is survived by his sons Brando, Kennedy, Bradman, and his daughter Priya. On Twitter, actor Anupam Kher paid tribute to the veteran filmmaker, remembering him as a man with “the most contagious laugh.” “I am deeply saddened to learn about the disappearance of beloved #JohnnyBakshi. It was a very integral part of my early life in Mumbai. As a producer, friend, follower and motivator. He had the most contagious laugh that made everyone around him happy, ”he said.
Deeply saddened to learn about the disappearance of dear #JohnnyBakshi. It was a very integral part of my early life in Mumbai. As a producer, friend, follower and motivator. He had the most contagious laugh that made everyone around him happy. अलविदा मेरे दोस्त ।ओम शांति🙏 pic.twitter.com/xmlcldfk9k
– Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) September 5, 2020
Shabana Azmi also wrote: “I am sorry to learn of the passing of filmmaker Johny Bakshi this morning. I made a film with him Vishwasghat very early in my career. It was invested in the cinema. Condolences to family and friends. “
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of filmmaker Johny Bakshi this morning. I made a movie with him, Vishwasghat, very early in my career. It was invested in the cinema. Condolences to family and friends.
– Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) September 5, 2020
Filmmaker Kunal Kolhi also mourned Bakshi’s death, saying that he was a “sweet and helpful person.” “I am saddened to hear about the passing of #JohnnyBakshi, sir. I met him during my #PlusChannel days with @MaheshNBhatt & @amitkhanna. He was a sweet and helpful man. Always smiling. Part of the old guard of the film industry. RIP sir, ”Kohli tweeted.
(With HT inputs)
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