Director of Amitabh Bachchan's superhit film 'Don' passes away. Who was Chandra Barot?

Chandra Barot, the director best known for creating the classic Bollywood film Don, passed away at the age of 86. His wife, Deepa Barot, confirmed his death in a statement to the Times of India, explaining that the filmmaker had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years. Throughout this difficult period, Barot received medical attention at Guru Nanak Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Manish Shetty and had previously undergone treatment at Jaslok Hospital as well.

From Banking in Africa to Filmmaking in India

Barot’s entry into the world of Indian cinema followed a highly unconventional path. He was born into a family that, due to political turbulence in the 1930s, settled in Dar-es-Salaam, South Africa. His professional journey initially began far from film sets—he was employed at Barclay’s Bank in Tanzania. However, his true calling lay elsewhere. Driven by a deep interest in storytelling, Barot eventually moved to India to pursue his cinematic aspirations. There, he began working alongside renowned filmmaker Manoj Kumar, assisting him on major projects such as Purab Aur Pachhim, which laid the foundation for his future in the film industry.

‘Don’—A Mission Rooted in Friendship

Barot's most iconic work, the 1978 blockbuster Don, was much more than just a film. It was, in many ways, a personal project aimed at helping his close friend, producer Nariman Irani, who was facing financial collapse.

In an interview with Rediff, Barot emphasized that Don emerged not only from a place of artistic drive but also from a heartfelt desire to support Irani during one of the darkest periods of his life. Irani was a respected cinematographer, recognized with both the National Film Award and the Filmfare Award for his work on Saraswatichandra (1968). As his career hit a downturn, his friends in the industry stood by him. They came together to create Don, hoping its success would provide Irani with a financial lifeline. Sadly, Irani passed away before he could witness the film's phenomenal success.

A Legacy That Sparked a Franchise

Released in 1978, Don became one of the year's biggest box office hits and later developed into a celebrated franchise. Javed Akhtar’s son, Farhan Akhtar, reimagined the film for modern audiences with Don: The Chase Begins Again in 2006, followed by a sequel, Don 2, in 2011—both starring Shah Rukh Khan. The story’s popularity also gave rise to successful South Indian adaptations like Yugandhar in Telugu (1979) and Billa in Tamil (1980), cementing Barot’s legacy across Indian cinema.