Kuku Kohli, the filmmaker celebrated for launching Ajay Devgn’s action-hero career and for his enduring partnership with veteran actress Aruna Irani, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 77 in Mumbai. His death, caused by a massive cardiac arrest at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, marks the end of a significant chapter in Hindi cinema, particularly the vibrant era of the 1990s. The news sent ripples through the film industry, sparking a wave of tributes and reflection on Kohli’s complex personal life and professional legacy.
According to India Today and ETimes, Kohli was admitted to the hospital on Monday, August 24, after he began feeling unwell and suffered a mild heart attack. Doctors performed an angioplasty, and his condition initially seemed stable. But on Tuesday, around 5:15 pm, Kohli suffered a sudden and massive cardiac arrest. Aruna Irani was by his side throughout, reportedly exchanging messages with him even in his final hours. The two were in a light-hearted mood, with Kohli joking, “Let’s not go overboard,” before his condition deteriorated rapidly and he stopped responding.
Kohli’s funeral took place the following day, Wednesday, August 26, at Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai. Family and friends gathered for a final darshan at the Kohli residence at 9:30 am, and the funeral procession departed from the family’s Green Acres home in Andheri West around 10 am, with the cremation close to noon. Aruna Irani, visibly devastated, needed support to walk through parts of the ceremony as she said goodbye to her husband. She was flanked by relatives from both the Irani and Kohli families, a poignant scene reflecting the complicated but loving ties that defined Kohli’s personal life.
The gathering at the crematorium was a testament to Kohli’s influence in Bollywood. According to ETimes, prominent figures like Rohit Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Sham Kaushal, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Raza Murad, and Deepak Parashar were among those who attended to pay their last respects. The loss was felt deeply across the industry, not only for Kohli’s cinematic achievements but also for the personal connections he nurtured over decades.
Born Avtar Kohli, Kuku Kohli’s journey in cinema began humbly. He started as an assistant director, working under the legendary Raj Kapoor on Mera Naam Joker (1971), and later with Rahul Rawail on films like Betaab (1983) and Arjun (1985), both starring Sunny Deol. These formative experiences helped him establish himself in the Hindi film industry before he took on the director’s chair.
Kohli’s directorial debut, Phool Aur Kaante (1991), was a game-changer. The film introduced a then-unknown Ajay Devgn to Bollywood, and its iconic motorcycle stunt—Devgn balancing on two moving bikes—became etched in pop culture memory. The movie, which also starred Madhoo and Aruna Irani, was a commercial hit and earned Devgn the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. According to The Economic Times, this role “effectively launched Devgn’s career as an action star.”
The collaboration between Kohli and Devgn didn’t stop there. They reunited for Suhaag (1994), which also featured Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor, and Nagma. That film, too, achieved box-office success, cementing Kohli’s reputation as a go-to commercial director. He continued to helm films across genres, directing Kohraam (1991), Haqeeqat (1995), Anari No.1 (1999), and Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004), his final film before retirement. Kohli’s ability to spot talent and his flair for memorable action sequences left an indelible mark on Hindi cinema.
Kohli’s personal life was as storied and complex as his filmography. He is survived by his second wife, Aruna Irani, and two daughters, Pooja and Karishma, from his first marriage to Rita Kohli. His relationship with Aruna Irani began professionally but soon evolved into something deeper. As recounted in interviews with Zoom and Lehren Retro, Aruna initially “hated” Kohli due to frequent on-set clashes during the shooting of Kohraam (1991). “I used to hate Kuku ji, and he too had issues with me. Then I don’t know what happened, he started to soften and we became friends. Then he started adjusting my dates. And eventually, love happened,” Aruna recalled.
However, their romance was complicated by the fact that Kohli was already married to Rita, with whom he had two daughters. Aruna made the difficult decision to keep their marriage secret initially, out of respect for Rita’s feelings and to avoid hurting anyone involved. “I don’t know where this stupid news came from that I was not aware of his first marriage. His wife would come on the sets along with the children. I knew about it,” Aruna admitted to ANI. She added, “It was a tough decision to make. But he fought the world to marry me.”
The emotional complexity didn’t end there. Aruna and Kohli made a conscious choice not to have children together. Aruna, herself the child of a second wife, didn’t want to pass on the emotional turmoil she had experienced. “I got married to a married man. I am suffering. It’s my job. Let the pain be with me only. But if my child asks, ‘Where is papa?’, what do I say? If something happens to my child in the middle of the night, I can’t call him. So that’s why I never wanted a child,” she confessed. She also cited her admiration for fellow actress Neena Gupta’s courage in raising a child as a single mother, but admitted, “I didn’t have the courage. I didn’t want my kid to suffer.”
Despite the personal challenges, Aruna and Kohli’s professional collaboration flourished. Aruna appeared in several of his films, including Phool Aur Kaante, Suhaag, Haqeeqat, Anari No.1, and Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002). The only Kohli film she did not feature in was his last, Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004). While Kohli retired from filmmaking, Aruna continued her acting career, most recently appearing in Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo earlier this year.
Kohli’s death closes a chapter on a filmmaker whose influence is woven into the fabric of Hindi cinema. He leaves behind not just a legacy of hit films and iconic moments, but also a story of love, struggle, and resilience—one that continues to resonate with those who knew him and with generations of moviegoers who thrilled to his work.