‘Don’ Director Chandra Barot Passes Away at 86 in Mumbai
Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot, widely recognised for directing Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 classic Don, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday, July 20. He was 86 years old.
Battle with Lung Disease and Cause of Death
According to his family, Barot had been battling Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung condition, for over 11 years. He was undergoing treatment at Guru Nanak Hospital.
His wife, Deepa Barot, told PTI, “Chandra passed away at the Guru Nanak Hospital this morning at 6.30 due to cardiac arrest caused by a chest infection. He had IPF, which is fibrosis of the lungs, for the past 11 years.”
Early Life and Shift to Filmmaking
Chandra Barot was born and raised in Tanzania. He initially worked at Barclays Bank in Dar-es-Salaam. However, due to racial unrest, he was forced to leave the country in 1967.
Upon arriving in India, he decided to follow his passion for cinema and joined veteran actor-director Manoj Kumar as an assistant director. Barot worked on several films including Purab Aur Pachhim, Yaadgaar, Shor, and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan.
Making of Don and Its Purpose
In 1978, Barot directed Don, the film that defined his career. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan and was scripted by the famous writer duo Salim–Javed.
Beyond cinematic ambition, Barot had a personal motivation for making the film.
He wanted to help his friend, cinematographer-producer Nariman Irani, who had suffered severe financial losses after the 1972 film Zindagi Zindagi failed commercially.
Limited Directorial Work After Don
After the success of Don, Barot directed the Bengali film Aashrita in 1989 and returned to Hindi cinema with Pyar Bhara Dil in 1991.
His later planned films, Hong Kong Wali Script and Neil Ko Pakadna….Impossible, never made it to release.
Enduring Impact of Don
Although Don had only a modest box office run at first, it quickly evolved into a cult classic. The film helped define the stylised crime-thriller genre in Bollywood and became a pivotal project in the rise of Amitabh Bachchan’s superstar image.
The legacy of Don did not end there. In 2006, the film was rebooted with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead and Farhan Akhtar as the director.
The duo returned with a sequel in 2011 titled Don 2: The King Is Back. A third installment is now in the works, with Ranveer Singh set to take the lead.
Tributes from the Film Industry
Filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, who is directing the third film in the Don franchise, paid tribute to Barot on Instagram.
“Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family,” Farhan wrote. Filmmaker Kunal Kohli and several others from the industry also expressed their grief and offered condolences.
Broader Cultural Influence
The legacy of Don goes beyond Bollywood. Over the years, the story has seen adaptations and renditions led by prominent actors such as Rajinikanth, Ajith Kumar, Prabhas, and Mohanlal. These regional adaptations have further cemented Don’s place in Indian cinematic history.
Final Years and Health Struggles
Deepa Barot confirmed that Chandra had been receiving treatment at Guru Nanak Hospital, and was previously admitted to Jaslok Hospital, where multiple therapies were attempted to manage his lung condition.
Despite medical efforts, age-related complications further weakened his health.
Remembering a Cinematic Pioneer
Though Don was Barot’s debut feature, it ensured his name would remain etched in the annals of Hindi cinema.
While his later films did not enjoy similar success, Don alone was enough to define his place in Bollywood history. His passing marks the end of an era, but his work continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike.
Chandra Barot is survived by his wife and son. His demise has left the film fraternity in mourning, with fans and colleagues paying tribute to the man who gave Hindi cinema one of its most iconic thrillers.
