Jane Bhi Do Yaaron director Kundan Shah passed away at his residence at 5am on Saturday morning
Kundan Shah during the protest against rising intolerance in the country
Veteran director Kundan Shah, best known for the dark comedy "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro", died at his home early today, family sources said. He was 69. Shah passed away after suffering a heart attack, sources
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close to the family told PTI.
He had studied direction at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and made his feature film debut in 1983 with the cult classic "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" (1983). The film did not become a box office success but Shah received his first and only National Award - Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director - for the movie which went on to become one of the most celebrated dark satirical
comedies in the history of Indian cinema. Shah returned the award during the student protest in his
alma mater FTII in 2015.
He made his directorial debut on television in 1986 with the popular series "Nukkad". In 1988, he directed the sitcom, "Wagle Ki Duniya", based on cartoonist R K Laxman's character, the common man. The director made his Bollywood comeback in 1993 with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa". His next film was "Kya Kehna" (2000). Starring Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Chandrachur Singh, the movie became a surprise hit. Though Shah made several films after that, commercial success eluded him.
Pawan Malhotra said, "Kundan Shah was great at budget management. The actor might tire, but Kundan would get retakes done to achieve perfection. He would handle his production work brilliantly."
Rakesh Bedi and Kundan Shah's relations extends beyond profession. Rakesh Bedi and Kundan Shah were classmates at FTII. Rakesh Bedi said, "Kundan Shah would say its not a joke to make a comedy film, its serious business." When he made films there, I acted in them. When we came to Mumbai, Kundan offered me a role in 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi' but I told him I would not do TV shows. Later, over a chat with me, he shouted at me saying that I did not know what I was about to miss. Television garners immense praise in the west. I would not understand this now, but people would remember me and my characters. After his earful, I agreed to do the role and I must admit that I have gained lots of praise."
With inputs from Anupriya Verma and agencies
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