Kuku Kohli | |
|---|---|
 Kohli in 2023 | |
| Born | Avtar Kohli 4 June 1949 |
| Died | 25 August 2026 (aged 77) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Other names | Avtar Kohli |
| Occupation | Director, producer |
| Years active | 1973–20?? |
Notable work | Phool Aur Kaante |
| Spouse(s) | Aruna Irani (m.1990 - 2026)[1] |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Roy–Joshi–Irani-Desai family |
Avtar Kohli (4 June 1949 – 25 August 2026), professionally known as Kuku Kohli, was an Indian film director, producer screenwriter and editor.[2] He gave Ajay Devgan his first break in the 1991 superhit film Phool Aur Kaante.[3][4]
Career[edit | edit source]
Early in his career, he worked under Raj Kapoor for many years where he learned his skills.[5] Kuku Kohli had been in the film industry for more than 30 years. He was the second unit director of the film Betaab which was the launch pad of Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh and catapulted both into stardom as it was a golden jubilee film. Another film was Arjun starring Sunny Deol and Dimple Kapadia, was a silver jubilee film. He, then, directed Kohraam starring Dharmendra. After this, he directed Phool Aur Kaante which achieved diamond jubilee status and elevated the visibility of Ajay Devgan; Suhaag starring Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Karishma Kapoor, Nagma was again a golden jubilee; Haqeeqat starred Ajay Devgan and Tabu, it was nominated in 7 categories including best director for the Filmfare Awards. Kohli was also nominated as the best director of the year for the same film for the Screen Awards. His next film was Anari No.1 starring Govinda in a double role. His directorial venture was Zulmi starring Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna. This film had also run successfully everywhere.
Since then he had made Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa. Music maestros Nadeem-Shravan made a comeback into the industry with this film. His last directorial was Woh Tera Naam Tha starring Arjan Bajwa and Kanchi Kaul.
Personal life and death[edit | edit source]
Kohli married actress Aruna Irani in 1990 and the couple have no children. This was his second marriage.[1] His children from his first marriage with Rita Kohli are daughters Pooja Kohli, a producer, and Karishma Kohli,[6] a filmmaker who has been an assistant director in movies like Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), both by Kabir Khan, and has also co-directed the Netflix series The Fame Game (2022). Karishma married actor Mikhail Yawalkar in 2025.[7]
Kohli died from a heart attack in Mumbai, on 25 August 2026, at the age of 77.[8] He was cremated at the Oshiwara Crematorium.[9]
Filmography[edit | edit source]
Director[edit | edit source]
- Kohraam (1991)
- Phool Aur Kaante (1991)
- Suhaag (1994)
- Haqeeqat (1995)
- Anari No.1 (1999)
- Zulmi (1999)
- Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa (2002)
- Woh Tera Naam Tha (2004)
See also[edit | edit source]
Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association[10][11]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Aruna Irani on husband Kuku: 'He didn't tell me that he was married'". Hindustan Times. 20 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ↑ "Kuku Kohli". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ↑ "Tuesday Trivia: When Ajay Devgn replaced Akshay Kumar in his debut film Phool Aur Kaante". India Today. September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ↑ "Ajay Devgn's 30-year-old Phool Aur Kaante split entry will always be iconic. On Monday Masala". India Today. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ↑ "New Talent, Old Virture". The Hindu. 5 February 2004. Archived from the original on 1 May 2004. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ↑ "When Aruna Irani 'married a married man' Kuku Kohli: 'Wives always blame the other woman'". The Indian Express. 26 August 2026.
- ↑ "Who Is Karishma Kohli? Know About Filmmaker & Katrina Kaif's Friend Who Married Actor Mikhail Yawalkar". MSN. MSN Entertainment. April 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ↑ Filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who introduced Ajay Devgn in films, passes away at 77; friend Ashoke Pandit reveals reason
- ↑ Yadav, Monica. "Kuku Kohli funeral: Aruna Irani bids emotional farewell as Rohit Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal pay last respects". Hindustan Times. Retrieved September 3rd, 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ↑ "Indo-Asian News Service". ians.in.
- ↑ "IMPPA Annual General Meeting of EC Member". Ahmedabad Mirror.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Kuku Kohli on IMDb