Our Bureau
Mumbai
Director of the iconic ‘Don’ starring Amitabh Bachchan which was released in 1978, Chandra Barot passed away this Sunday, on July 20th. Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan paid tribute to his director who lost his life following a seven-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 86.
The senior actor wrote in his official blog, “Bachchan Bol”, that it is a very sad moment for him. He stated that he was not only his director but was a dear family friend to him. The actor seemed lost for words and stated that he can do nothing but only pray.
“Another and another sad moment.. Dear dear friend and my director of DON – Chandra Barot passed away this morning.. It is difficult to put into words the loss.. we worked together yes, but he was more a family friend than any else.. I can only pray,” Amitabh Bachchan wrote.
The link between Amitabh Bachchan and Chandra Barot – the movie Don, had a very intriguing story that led to its creation. Actor-producer Nariman Irani was in financial trouble after the failure of Zindagi Zindagi in 1972. Irani wasn’t sailing too well financially, when Baron and his team took the project and racked in legendary writing duo of Saleem-Javed when they were not that famous.
Nariman Irani, however, couldn’t overcome his financial difficulties and faced a lot of trouble during the shooting of Don. There were even times when Irani couldn’t even afford to have meals on the shoot. Irani was unfortunate and passed away just before the release of his film and couldn’t even witness the success that his film garnered. Nirmani lost his life in a freak accident on another film’s set but the money Don earned helped clear his debts long after he was gone.
Don wasn’t the only movie in Barot’s filmography as he directed the Bengali films Aashrita (1989) and Pyar Bhara Dil (1991). However, several of his other projects like Boss and Neil Ko Pakadna… Impossible, remained incomplete or unreleased.
