Bollywood legend Hrishikesh Mukherjee no more

Mumbai, Aug 27 (UNI) Legendary filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee who shaped the careers of several top actors including Amitabh Bachchan died here this evening at the Leelavati Hospital after prolonged illness.

Mukherjee had been admitted to the intensive care unit of Lilavati Hospital in June for treatment of kidney failure.

He was 84 and is survived by his three daughters and a son. Top models Tapur and Tupur Chaterjee are his daughters.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday after his son returns from the U S.

Actors like Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Rekha, Jaya Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore and Amol Palekar have featured in Hrishida's films which have always been hailed as embodiment of simplicity.

Starting his career in 1951 and working with legendary Bimal Roy as an assistant for films including 'Madhumati' and 'Do Bigha Zameen', Mukherjee directed memorable films like 'Anari', 'Anuradha', 'Anupama', 'Mili', 'Guddi', 'Abhiman', 'Bawarachi', 'Golmaal', 'Satyakam' and 'Chupke Chupke'.

Known for gentle humour as well as emotional dramas, Mukherjee's films always contained a social message which charmed audiences as well as critics.

He also served as chairman of the state-run National Film Development Corporation and of the Censor Board.

Mukherjee who was born on September 30, 1922, has been a Padma Vibhushan as well as Dadasaheb Phalke awardee for lifetime achievement in cinema.

Mukherjee's films dealt with all aspects of human sensitivities in his classic movies which were hailed as embodiment of simplicity and carved a niche for themselves along with action, thrillers and romantic films.

Characters in a Hrishida movie were simple and entertaining people and his films were popular even in the seventies, which was marked by the arrival of the action genre.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was not a glamorous director, but was one of the most popular and beloved filmmakers in Indian cinema. His magic lay not in the glamour or largeness so often associated with cinema, but in its simplicity and warmth. He was a versatile technician - writer, editor, producer and director for over 40 films in a career spanning three decades.

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