Veteran film producer Salim Akhtar passed away at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness. He was admitted at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. His family has not yet issued an official statement, but industry insiders have begun paying their tributes for the producer.

The Indian Film TV Producers Council mourned his death on social media and wrote, “Deeply saddening news Indian producer Salim Akhtar Ji has passed away. Deepest condolences to the family and loved ones. Om Shanti.”

Salim is known for launching the careers of Rani Mukerji in the 1996 film Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat and Tamannaah Bhatia in Chand Sa Roshan Chehra (2005). Apart from that, he has produced films like Mithun Chakraborty’s Phool Aur Angaar (1993), Dharmendra’s Qayamat (1983), Shatrughan Sinha and Neetu Singh starrer Choron Ki Baarat (1980) and Aamir Khan’s Baazi (1995), among others.

Salim is survived by his wife, Shama Akhtar, and their son, Samad Akhtar. His funeral took take place on Wednesday at 1:30 pm in Mumbai and was attended by Raj Babbar, Raza Murad, Firoz Khan and Shahbaz Khan.