Veteran filmmaker and actor famous for films like Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye, Amrapali, Professor, Jhuk Gaya Aasman, Agar Tum Na Hote etc. Lekh Tandon passed away at the age of 88 at his Powai home. The cause of death is still not known.

Born on February 13, 1929, Lekh Tandon’s father, Faqeer Chand Tandon was a friend of Prithviraj Kapoor since childhood. It was because his father’s friendship with the legendary artist that Lekh was lured into films. In fact, Lekh’s brother Yograj was an AD and secretary to Prithviraj Kapoor.

Lekh Tandon directed numerous Bollywood movies and acted in films like Swades, Rang De Basanti, Chennai Express and Chaarfutiya Chhokare. He also shared the 1978 Filmfare Best Screenplay Award for his movie Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye with Vrajendra Gaur and Madhusudan Kalekar. His directorial Amrapali which starred Vyjayanthimala and Sunil Dutt, was India’s submission to the 39th Academy Awards for the Best Foreign Language Film.

 

Starting his journey in films as an assistant director, Lekh went on to become one of the most successful filmmakers. His film Amrapali was India’s official entry to Oscars and he has also won Filmfare best screenplay award for his film, Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye. He later directed TV shows and is instrumental in introducing the world to Shah Rukh Khan. It was Lekh Tandon who gave him his first break in TV serial, Dil Dariya.

He, later, ventured into acting as well and acted in films like Swades, Paheli, Rang De Basanti with Chennai Express being his last film as an actor. Later in an interview to Rediff, he credited Shah Rukh Khan for forcing him to be an actor. In fact in the same interview he went on to reveal that even though they had their differences but “Shah Rukh has helped all those people who have helped him at the beginning of his career.” He recalled that for a small role in Chennai Express, Shah Rukh gave him a hefty amount of Rs 11 lakhs.

His funeral will take place on October 16, 2017. May his soul Rest In Peace.