Ajay Devgn Mourns Kuku Kohli Says He Changed the Course of My Life Forever

Ajay Devgn has paid an emotional tribute to veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli, whose death has left the actor reflecting on the person who gave him his first major opportunity in Bollywood. Kohli passed away at the age of 77 on August 25, 2026, following a heart attack in Mumbai. For Devgn, however, the filmmaker's legacy is deeply personal: Kuku Kohli was the man who trusted a newcomer and launched him with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991.

Sharing his tribute on social media, Devgn wrote, “Some people change the course of your life forever. Kuku ji was one of those people for me.” The actor went on to express his gratitude for the filmmaker's faith in him, adding that Kohli would be deeply missed. The brief but heartfelt message captured just how important the director was in Devgn's journey from an aspiring newcomer to one of Hindi cinema's most established stars.

When Phool Aur Kaante arrived in 1991, few could have predicted the extraordinary career that lay ahead for its young leading man. Devgn made an immediate impression with his intense screen presence and action-oriented image. The film's opening sequence, in which he balanced himself between two moving motorcycles, became an instant talking point and remains one of the most recognisable debut moments in Bollywood history.

That stunt was more than just a flashy introduction. It immediately established Devgn as an action hero and gave audiences a glimpse of the physical confidence that would become one of his trademarks. Phool Aur Kaante went on to become a major success, and the film effectively gave Devgn the launchpad he needed to build a career spanning more than three decades.

For Kohli, the decision to cast Devgn was a significant one as well. At the time, Devgn was a complete newcomer, and putting him at the centre of a commercial Hindi film required a leap of faith. Kohli made that choice, and the partnership changed the trajectory of Indian cinema in its own small but important way. The filmmaker did not simply give Devgn a role; he gave a future superstar his first big screen opportunity.

Devgn and Kohli continued their professional association after Phool Aur Kaante, making their collaboration an important chapter in both their careers. Kohli went on to direct films such as Suhaag, Haqeeqat, Zulmi and Anari No. 1, establishing himself as a filmmaker associated with the commercial Hindi cinema of the 1990s.

Kohli's passing has therefore brought back memories of a defining era in Bollywood, but for Devgn, the loss is clearly far more intimate. Behind the superstar audiences see today is the young actor who once walked onto the sets of Phool Aur Kaante carrying the hopes of a newcomer. Kuku Kohli was among the first people in the industry to see something in him and give him the opportunity to prove it.

Devgn's tribute is particularly poignant because careers in cinema are often shaped by a handful of people who are willing to take a chance at the right moment. Kohli's faith in Devgn became one of those defining moments. More than 30 years later, the actor has become a National Award-winning performer, producer and one of Bollywood's most enduring stars, but he has not forgotten where that journey began.

As the film industry remembers Kuku Kohli, Phool Aur Kaante will remain an important part of his legacy. For audiences, it introduced a young Ajay Devgn with two motorcycles, a fearless attitude and a memorable action sequence. For Devgn himself, it was the beginning of everything. And that is why his farewell to Kuku Kohli carries a weight that goes far beyond another industry tribute: it is a thank-you to the filmmaker who helped change his life forever.

Facebook Comments