Chandra Barot, the director of the legendary 1978 film Don, starring Amitabh Bachchan, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86. Farhan Akhtar, the filmmaker who resurrected the franchise with Shah Rukh Khan and is now doing it again with Ranveer Singh, gave a touching homage, honoring his legacy.

At the age of 86, Chandra Barot passes away.

A hospital in Bandra was where Chandra Barot took his last breath on Sunday. To The Times of India, his wife, Deepa Barot, verified the information about his passing, saying, "He had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years." He had previously been admitted to Jaslok Hospital and is now receiving treatment at Guru Nanak Hospital under the direction of Dr. Manish Shetty, she said.

When the news of his passing broke on social media, actor and director Farhan Akhtar was one of the first people in Bollywood to express his condolences. On Instagram, Farhan, who is working on the third film in the Don franchise, referred to Chandra as the "OG."

While working on Don, Farhan shared his photo with Amitabh and said, "Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family."

Many big stars turned down Don, a script by Salim-Javed, before it became a smash hit. Later, Chandra, Amitabh, and Zeenat Aman made the decision to take on the task of rescuing one of their pals from financial hardship. Chandra was Manoj Kumar's longtime assistant director, and he formed relationships with Amitabh and Zeenat while filming Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. He also established a strong connection with Nariman Irani, the film's cinematographer, whom they affectionately referred to as Bawa.

In Don, which was released on May 12, 1978, Amitabh portrayed two characters: a mafia boss and a common villager. With its upbeat music, memorable lines, and thrilling action, the movie went on to become a smash.

Farhan carries on Don's legacy

In 2006, Farhan recreated Chandra Barot's well-known Amitabh Bachchan-starring film, casting Isha Koppikar, Priyanka Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, and Arjun Rampal in his version. He returned to the world in 2011 with Don 2: The King Is Back. Shah Rukh Khan appeared in the movie alongside Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Lara Dutta, Om Puri, Nawwab Shah, Ally Khan, Sahil Shroff, and Kunal Kapoor.

The third installment of Farhan's series will be published soon. He will be presenting Ranveer Singh as the anti-hero.

Read Also: Don Director Chandra Barot Passes Away at 86
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