Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot, best known for directing the 1978 cult classic ‘Don’, passed away on July 20, 2025 at the age of 86. He had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for seven years and breathed his last at Guru Nanak Hospital in Mumbai. Barot’s contribution to Indian cinema was profound despite a limited filmography. His directorial debut, ‘Don’, not only launched a franchise but also became a defining moment in Bollywood history. Tributes poured in from across the industry. Amitabh Bachchan mourned the loss with, “Another sad moment. Dear, dear friend and my director of ‘Don’ – Chandra Barot passed away this morning. It is difficult to put the loss in words. We worked together, yes, but he was more a family friend than any else. I can only pray.” Farhan Akhtar, who remade ‘Don’ years later, called him the “OG ‘Don’” director. Barot’s journey from Tanzania to the heart of Hindi cinema was marked by passion and resilience. Though many of his later projects remained unfinished, his legacy lives on through the timeless impact of ‘Don’.
