Kuku Kohli (Avatar Kohli / Sandesh "Kuku" Kohli ) (4 June 1949 – 25 August 2026) was a prominent Indian film director, screenwriter, editor, and producer. He is most celebrated in Bollywood for launching the career of superstar Ajay Devgn in the blockbuster action-romance film Phool Aur Kaante (1991). Across a career spanning over three decades, Kohli shaped 1990s Hindi cinema with his distinct blend of action, family drama, and romance. He passed away from a cardiac arrest in Mumbai at the age of 77.Early Life & Career BeginningsRoots: Born and raised in Peshawar (now in Pakistan), his real name was Sandesh Kohli (also known as Avtar Kohli).The Mentorship: Kohli learned his filmmaking craft by assisting the legendary director Raj Kapoor. He worked behind the scenes on timeless classics like Bobby, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and Prem Rog.Stepping Up: He later served as a second-unit director alongside Rahul Rawail on major Sunny Deol action hits like Betaab (1983) and Arjun (1985).Directorial Breakthrough & SuccessPhool Aur Kaante (1991): Kohli made his independent directorial debut with this massive commercial success. It introduced Ajay Devgn and actress Madhoo to Bollywood. The film is legendary for Devgn’s iconic entry scene balancing on two moving motorcycles.Suhaag (1994): Another major box-office hit that brought together the pairing of Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar for the first time.Other Notable Films: He continued directing a string of successful mainstream films through the 90s and early 2000s, including Haqeeqat (1995), Zulmi (1999), and Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002). His final directorial feature was Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004).Industry Leadership: Beyond directing, he actively contributed to the filmmaking fraternity by serving as the General Secretary of the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA).Personal LifeMarriages: Kohli was first married to Rita Kohli, with whom he had two daughters. In 1990, while still legally married to Rita, he wed veteran Bollywood actress Aruna Irani after falling in love on set.Children: He is survived by his daughters Pooja Kohli (a film producer) and Karishma Kohli (a prominent filmmaker who co-directed the Netflix series The Fame Game). He had no children with Aruna Irani.DeathOn 25 August 2026, “Kuku Kohli passed away in Mumbai at the age of 77 following a cardiac emergency. He had been admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital after feeling unwell and suffering a heart attack.”His funeral at the Oshiwara Crematorium was attended by numerous prominent Bollywood personalities who gathered to pay their final respects.
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