# Filmmaker Kuku Kohli cremated in Mumbai, Bollywood pays tribute 2026-08-26T10:41:24+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets (4 source reports) Veteran filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who launched Ajay Devgn with the 1991 film Phool Aur Kaante, was cremated at Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai on August 26. He died at 77 on August 25 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack, according to his friend and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit. Kohli's wife, actor Aruna Irani, was visibly emotional as she left the crematorium. Several Bollywood figures attended the funeral, including Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, Rohit Shetty, and Sharvari. Ajay Devgn paid tribute on X, writing: 'Some people change the course of your life forever. Kuku ji was one of those people for me.' Anupam Kher also remembered Kohli as 'a pure and gentle soul'. Kohli is survived by Irani and two daughters, Pooja and Karishma, from his first marriage to Rita Kohli. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The coverage is largely uniform straight reporting, with all outlets detailing Kohli's death, the funeral, and tributes from Ajay Devgn and Anupam Kher. Times of India alone takes a dramatic lead, foregrounding Karishma Kohli's visible grief with emotional language, while the other three stick to factual narration. No source disputes any fact. The story's consensus centres on Kohli's legacy as the director who launched Devgn, and the outpouring from Bollywood figures underscores his industry standing. His last film, Woh Tera Naam Tha, released in 2004, remains his final directorial credit. ## Coverage Coverage: 4 sources, 3 neutral, 1 sensationalist - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (sensationalist) Leads with Karishma's grief, uses words like 'devastated' and 'heartbroken' - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Straight reporting of funeral, family details, and industry reaction - ndtv.com (neutral report) Focuses on Aruna Irani's emotional state, includes PTI video embed - ndtv.com (2) (neutral report) Leads with Ajay Devgn tribute, lists other attendees and tributes This brief was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources. Last updated 2026-08-26T11:11:28+00:00. Tags: Ajay Devgn, Aruna Irani, Ashoke Pandit, Karishma Kohli, Kuku Kohli, Phool Aur Kaante Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/filmmaker-kuku-kohli-dies-aged-77-funeral-held-in-mumbai/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/filmmaker-kuku-kohli-dies-aged-77-funeral-held-in-mumbai/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/