Sad news has come from the industry circuit: famous director Chandra Barot, who was known for his iconic film “Don,” is no more.
Chandra Barot passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at the age of 86. He had been battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for the past 11 years. His wife, Deepa Barot, confirmed the news, stating that he passed away at Guru Nanak Hospital due to cardiac arrest caused by a chest infection.
Chandra Barot was also active on our page, Tasweermahal. He was not active on social media for the past few months, though. His passing away feels a little more near to our hearts as he was one of the earliest members who encouraged our little page.
Early Life
Chandra Barot was born in 1939 in Tanzania, though exact details remain unclear. He grew up in Dar-es-Salaam, raised in a family with cultural ties to India. His sister, Kamal Barot, became a famous playback singer, known for “Hansta Hua Noorani Chehra” from “Parasmani (1963).” His brother, Ramesh Barot, Pratap Barot, Dev Barot, and producer Harish Barot also worked in the industry. He also had three other sisters: Nuti Barot, Sudha Barot and famous radio personality and DJ Bala Thomson.
Ashish attended Don Bosco High School in Mumbai for his schooling. He later graduated from D.G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in Mumbai. His early interest in modeling and acting emerged during these years, shaping his career path.
Barot pursued no formal higher education in film. He worked at Barclays Bank in Dar-es-Salaam before racial unrest in 1967 forced his family to leave. He planned to settle in London but visited India first, marking the start of his entertainment journey.
Chandra Barot In Films
Barot entered the industry as an assistant director under Manoj Kumar, working on films like “Purab Aur Paschim (1970),” “Yaadgaar (1970),” “Shor (1972),” and “Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974).” His sister Kamal introduced him to music directors Kalyanji-Anandji, who connected him to Kumar. Barot joined Kumar’s team on a salary of Rs. 450 per month, gaining hands-on experience.
His directorial debut came with “Don (1978),” written by Salim Javed. The action thriller stars Amitabh Bachchan as a gangster and his lookalike. The plot follows a police scheme to replace the criminal with an imposter. Barot crafted it to support producer Nariman Irani after “Zindagi Zindagi (1972)” flopped. The film also stars Pran, Zeenat Aman, Om Shivpuri, Helen and Iftekhar.
The high-octane thriller became a cult classic for its gripping pace, stunning chase sequences, and the twists and turns of a masala masterpiece. The film also has chartbuster music from Kalyanji Anandji. It has songs like “Khaike Paan Banaras Wala,” “Jiska Mujhe Tha Intezaar,” “Main Hoon Don,” and “Yeh Mera Dil.”
Other Work
In the 1980s he planned a film, “Boss,” and wanted to sign Feroz Khan, but he was busy with Qurbani. He then signed Vinod Khanna. For various reasons the film got delayed, and after some time Vinod Khanna decided to leave the industry. The film remains unfinished. Barot later restarted it with Jackie Shroff, then Jeetendra and again with Vinod Khanna, but it remained an unfinished product.
Barot also wanted to make a film, “Master,” with Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu in the early 1980s, but producers did not back the film after Dilip Kumar started playing character roles in “Kranti and “Shakti.” He then started “Krishna,” starring Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor and Amjad Khan. It also got shelved after some time.
Barot was asked to direct “Titli,” with Raj Babbar and Sarika. It was produced by Sarika, but she moved to Chennai after marrying Kamal Hassan and left the project unfinished.
In 1989 he directed the Bengali film “Aashrita,” starring Prosenjit Chatterjee and Debashree Roy. In 1991 he directed “Pyar Bhara Dil” with Tanuja, Tushar Vora, Deepa, Reema Lagoo and Raza Murad. The film introduced the Musician Nikhil Vinay.
Barot married Deepa, the actress from “Pyar Bhara Dil.” She is the daughter of choreographer Vijay of Vijay-Oscar fame. They have a son, Akshaan Barot.
Personal Life
Barot married Deepa, an actress from “Pyar Bhara Dil.” She is the daughter of choreographer Vijay of Vijay-Oscar fame. They have a son, Akshaan Barot.
His wife, Deepa, confirmed the news of his death, prompting tributes from industry, fans and friends.
Farhan Akhtar, director of the Don franchise reboot, paid tribute on Instagram. He called Barot the “OG Don” director and extended condolences to his family. Akhtar’s post reflects respect for Barot’s original work, which inspired his own films. Kunal Kohli, a filmmaker, shared memories on social media. He assisted Barot on the shelved Boss with Vinod Khanna, describing him as a sharp and kind mentor. Kohli thanked Barot for Don’s stylish impact on Indian cinema.
Amitabh Bachchan, the lead of Don, posted a tribute. He noted Barot as a dear friend from their Roti Kapada Aur Makaan days, calling his loss difficult. Bachchan’s response underscores a personal connection beyond professional ties.
Film critic Taran Adarsh expressed sadness on X, recognizing Barot’s role in the iconic 1978 film. He offered condolences to Barot’s family, aligning with industry sentiment. Sanjay Gupta, another director, thanked Barot on social media for Don, labeling it one of the most entertaining Hindi films.
Chandra Barot on IMDB
