‘Don’ Director Chandra Barot Dies at 86, Leaving Legacy of Bollywood’s Iconic Classic
Film industry mourns the loss of the visionary behind Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 blockbuster.
Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot, celebrated for directing the 1978 cult classic Don starring Amitabh Bachchan, passed away on Sunday at Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, at the age of 86. His wife, Deepa Barot, confirmed to PTI that he succumbed to a cardiac arrest triggered by a chest infection, after battling Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) for 11 years. Barot had also been treated at Jaslok Hospital previously.
Born in Tanzania, Barot began his career in banking before racial unrest in the 1960s prompted his move to India. He entered Bollywood as an assistant director under Manoj Kumar on films like Purab Aur Pachhim, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Yaadgaar, and Shor. His directorial debut, Don, was a personal mission to help friend and producer Nariman Irani, who faced financial ruin after his 1972 film Zindagi Zindagi flopped. Written by Salim-Javed, Don became a blockbuster despite initial rejections from stars like Dharmendra and Dev Anand, cementing Bachchan’s stardom with iconic dialogues and songs like “Khaike Paan Benaraswala.” Tragically, Irani died six months before its release.
Despite Don’s success, Barot directed only a few other films, including the Bengali Aashrita (1989) and Pyar Bhara Dil (1991), with projects like Boss and Neil Ko Pakadna… Impossible remaining incomplete. The film’s legacy endures through Farhan Akhtar’s remakes, with a third installment starring Ranveer Singh in development. Akhtar paid tribute on Instagram, writing, “Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji.”
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Filmmakers Kunal Kohli and Sanjay Gupta also mourned Barot on X, with Kohli recalling his time assisting on Boss and Gupta hailing Don as “one of the most entertaining Hindi films ever.” Barot is survived by his wife and son, leaving behind a cinematic legacy that continues to inspire.
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