Amitabh Bachchan's Don Director Chandra Barot Passes Away At 86 In Mumbai

Filmmaker Chandra Barot, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan cult film, Don, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday at the age of 86. The news was confirmed by his wife, Deepa Barot.

Barot was reportedly undergoing treatment for his lungs for several years now. Prior to his death, he was being treated by Dr Manish Shetty at Guru Nanak hospital in the city. Previously, he was admitted to Jaslok Hospital.

"He had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years," his wife, Deepa Barot, told Times of India.

RIP #ChandraBarot ji
Thank you for directing Don so beautifully
Pic
Amitabh Bachchan and Chandra Barot shooting a key scene on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway for DON pic.twitter.com/uUFlbKl6Dy

— Moses Sapir (@MosesSapir) July 20, 2025

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About Chandra Barot

Barot moved from Tanzania to India due to racial unrest, and soon after, he stepped into the Hindi film industry. He began work as an assistant director with actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar, who, incidentally, passed away a few months ago.

With Kumar, Barot gained experience as an AD, and worked in his multiple films, including Purab Aur Pachhim, Shor, and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan.

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Barot had his breakthrough in 1978 when he finally decided to direct Don, starring Amitabh Bachchan. The film flopped at the box office in its first week, shattering Barot's dream, but it soon gained momentum due to word of mouth, and went on to become an all-time blockbuster.

Don cemented Big B's place in the industry and made him one of the top stars.

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The 'one-hit wonder'

Barot also helmed the Bengali film, Aashrita, in 1989, and the Hindi film, Pyar Bhaara Dil in 1991, but nothing worked for him like Don did, and he got labelled as a 'one-hit wonder'.

Barot had revealed that he received 52 film offers post the success of Don, but he could only manage a handful of releases. He also signed multiple projects like Neil Ko Pakadna...Impossible, Boss, and others, but they were never completed or released.