Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif Attend Kuku Kohli Funeral to Pay Final Respects

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif were among the Bollywood celebrities who arrived at the Oshiwara Crematorium in Andheri West, Mumbai, on Wednesday to attend the final rites of veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli. The couple arrived together to pay their respects to the celebrated director, whose sudden death at the age of 77 has left the Hindi film industry mourning.

Kuku Kohli, best remembered for directing the 1991 blockbuster Phool Aur Kaante, passed away on August 25 following a massive cardiac arrest. The filmmaker had reportedly suffered a mild heart attack and underwent angioplasty at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Although he was initially said to be stable, his health suddenly deteriorated the following evening, leading to his tragic demise.

The funeral procession began on Wednesday morning from Kohli's residence at Green Acres in Lokhandwala before making its way to the crematorium. Close family members, friends and several personalities from the film fraternity gathered to bid farewell to the filmmaker. The atmosphere was understandably sombre as the industry came together to remember a director whose work remains closely connected with an important era of commercial Hindi cinema.

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif's presence was among the notable moments from the funeral. The couple joined fellow members of the film fraternity in offering their condolences to Kohli's family. Their appearance reflected the wide respect the veteran filmmaker commanded within the industry, even years after his most active period as a director.

Veteran actress Aruna Irani, Kohli's wife, was seen visibly devastated during the funeral. She was supported by family members and industry friends as she arrived for the final rites. The emotional visuals of Irani highlighted the deeply personal nature of the loss for a woman who had shared more than three decades of marriage with the filmmaker.

Kuku Kohli's legacy is inseparable from Phool Aur Kaante, the film that launched Ajay Devgn's career in 1991. Devgn's memorable debut, particularly the iconic sequence in which he balances between two moving motorcycles, immediately established him as an action hero. The film became a major commercial success and gave Hindi cinema one of its most enduring stars.

Kohli went on to direct several films during the 1990s, including Suhaag, Haqeeqat, Zulmi and Anari No. 1. His cinema was closely associated with the commercial storytelling of the era, blending action, drama, romance and comedy for mainstream audiences. His professional relationship with Ajay Devgn also remained an important chapter of his career.

Several other Bollywood personalities attended the funeral to pay their last respects. Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, actor Sharvari, veteran performer Tiku Talsania, producer and industry figure Ashoke Pandit and actor Gajendra Chauhan were among those who joined the gathering. Their presence reflected the affection and respect Kohli continued to receive within the Hindi film community.

Ajay Devgn and Anupam Kher have also remembered the filmmaker in emotional tributes following his death. Devgn credited Kohli with changing the course of his life by believing in him when he was a newcomer, while Kher remembered him not only as a talented director but also as a kind and gentle human being.

As Kuku Kohli's final journey came to an end in Mumbai, the gathering at the crematorium became a quiet farewell to a filmmaker whose work helped shape the careers of actors and contributed to the commercial cinema of the 1990s. For audiences, Phool Aur Kaante remains his most recognisable legacy. For those who knew and worked with him, however, his warmth, relationships and faith in others appear to be memories that will last far beyond his films.