Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot, who strengthened his legacy with the 1978 creed classic ‘Don’, starring Amitabh Bachchan, died in Mumbai on Sunday. He was 86 years old.

His wife, Deepa Barot, confirmed that the director was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for the last seven years. He was undergoing treatment at Guru Nanak Hospital and was earlier admitted to Jaslok Hospital, where doctors tried several remedies to manage his condition. Age -related complications worsened his health.

Although ‘Don’ was his first feature, it left an external mark on Hindi cinema. While there was a modest run on release in the film, it soon snowed in a cultural event – to define the stylized crime -thriller style in Bollywood and set up a platform for future adaptation. The film not only contributed to the myth of Amitabh Bachchan’s stardom, but also gave birth to a successful franchise, in which Shah Rukh Khan now worked two remakes and one third part under the direction of Farhan Akhtar.

Tributes have started with the film industry, which includes Farhan Akhtar and filmmaker Kunal Kohli. Farhan appreciated Barot as “OG Don” and a true legend, expressing condolences to her family in an emotional note. His post read, “It is sad to know that OG is not a director of Dawn.

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Before the director stepped on the chair, Barot served as an assistant director in several Manoj Kumar films, including ‘Purba and Pachim’, ‘Shor’ and ‘Roti Capaah Aur Maken’. Although his subsequent direction attempts, such as ‘Ashrita’ (1989) and ‘Pyaar Bhara Dil’ (1991) reiterated the success of ‘Don’, the film alone secured its place in the history of cinema.

The passing of Barot marks the end of an era, but his cinematic heritage, especially ‘don’, inspires generations.