Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar passes away

Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, known for helming films like Parineeta (2005), Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) and Mardaani (2014), passed away on Friday. He was 67.

Director Hansal Mehta took to Twitter on Friday to make the announcement. “Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. RIP,” he wrote along with a picture of the deceased.

As per reports, the director was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Lilavati hospital in Mumbai’s Bandra following a fever. The filmmaker had viral fever on March 22, said his wife, Panchali. After administering some medicines his fever subsided but not completely. So, he was rushed to the hospital early Friday morning, she added. The director passed away at the hospital between 3.10 and 3.30 am.

“By the time we reached the hospital, his vitals started dropping. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The infection attacked his lungs,” she said.

“According to doctors, he had many comorbidities which weakened his immunity. His blood pressure was fluctuating. Since Covid-19 hit him in July 2022, he was quite weak,” she added.

Before venturing into films, Sarkar was known to direct commercials. He also helmed several acclaimed music videos like Shubha Mudgal's 'Ab Ke Saawan', Euphoria's 'Dhoom Pichak Dhoom' and 'Maaeri', Sultan Khan's ‘Piya Basanti’ and Bhupen Hazarika's ‘Ganga’.

He started off in films as an editor on Rajkumar Hirani’s Munnabhai M.B.B.S (2003). Later he went on to direct Parineeta, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Lafangey Parindey, Mardaani and Helicopter Eela. He also directed web series like Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala (2019), Forbidden Love(2020) and the OTT film Duranga (2022).

Several members of the film fraternity expressed their grief and shared condolences on the demise of the director. 

As per a PTI report, Rani Mukerji, who worked with the director on Mardaani and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, said she interacted with him a few days ago when he called to congratulate her for her latest movie Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. "I am very shocked by the news of Dada's passing away. I, in fact, spoke to him just the other day when I had gone to Amritsar, to the Golden Temple, where he had called to talk about my film. We had a long chat. He was insisting on making a facetime call but that day the network was not good so I was unable to do a video call with him.”

“We were planning to meet this week when I got back but it was just so unexpected. His wife (Panchali) called me at 4 am when this happened, it is really sad and shocking that dada has passed away like this," the actor said in a statement.

Kajol, who worked in Pradeep's Helicopter Eela, shared a tweet along with a picture of them together. “Dada, you will be missed. Your sense of humor, humility and all the work you put into your films will always be remembered. RIP,” she wrote

Other celebrities also remembered the director. Taking to Twitter, actor Ajay Devgn wrote: "The news of Pradeep Sarkar's demise, 'Dada' to some of us, is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences (flower bouquet). My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada."

The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri also shared a statement on Twitter which read, "It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that Pradeep has departed for his heavenly abode…”

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who worked with the director in Lafangey Parindey shared pictures with Pradeep on Twitter. He said, "DADA!!! Why??? I'll miss you dada. Will always remember you as that child-hearted, full of life man who taught me so much. Your creation 'Lafangey Parindey' will always remain close to my heart. My prayers with the family."

Actor Tahir Raj Bhasin, who played the antagonist in Sarkar's Mardaani said in a statement: 'Woke up to the extremely sad news of the passing away of Pradeep Dada. I will always remember him with eternal gratitude as the man who trusted me with Mardaani. He was a maestro whose experience and guidance gave me the confidence to act to my fullest potential in my debut film. He mentored and then gave me space to create a part and in this trust lay his genius. I remember being extremely nervous on day one of the shoot."

He added, "It was a production-heavy day, we were holding up traffic and there were 100 junior artists on set. An intimidating environment for a first-timer. After my first take, I waited with bated breath as he watched the monitor. After what seemed like an eternity, he yelled out for the entire set to hear, "that was great!". Just that validation from your first director still rings in my ears when I walk on to a set to this day. He was a visionary par excellence, ahead of his time. He lives on in the films he created. May he rest in peace."

The Lunchbox actress Nimrat Kaur also shared a picture of Pradeep and tweeted: "Had the great pleasure of being on his set a few times in my modeling days. His hearty laughter and relentless perfectionism will forever be etched in my heart. Deepest condolences to his loved ones. Rest on Dada, the heavens above are a happier place. #RIPPradeepSarkar."

In October last year, Kangana Ranaut had announced that she would be working with Sarkar on his upcoming film Noti Binodini on 19th-century Bengali theatre artist Binodini Dasi. Kangana also shared a video on Twitter remembering the last meal she had with the director. “Last meal I had with Pradeep dada, he knew I love Bengali food, this was during Noti Binodini prep meet, that’s his hand in the first frame… Such terrible news, we were to meet as soon as I got to Mumbai… My heart is sinking and I won’t be able to cope with this shocking news.”