Cinematographer and director Ashok Mehta dies

Ashok Mehta, one of India’s best known cinematographers, is no more. He was suffering from advanced lung cancer and breathed his last at a hospital here on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Mehta was admitted to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital. He passed away at around 1 pm, hospital sources confirmed to IANS. He was 65.

He was known for shooting some evocative films, including Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen, Shyam Benegal’s Mandi and Trikaal, Aparna Sen’s 36 Chowringhee Lane and Paroma, Shashi Kapoor’s Utsav, Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak and Kisna, and MF Husain’s Gaja Gamini.

The news of his ill health first surfaced during the recording of Raveena Tandon’s chat show Issi Ka Naam Zindagi Hai. He featured in a segment featuring Arjun Rampal, whom he had launched in Bollywood with his only directorial project Moksha.

Bollywood has tweeted their grief over Mr Mehta’s passing:

Shekhar Kapur: RIP Ashok Mehta. With Respect Love Admiration Regret n Pain.

Farah Khan: Had the good fortune 2 work with Ashok mehta,revolutionary cinematographer..may God bless his soul.

Arshad Warsi: A man full of life who I love n respect has passed away.. M favourite DOP Ashok Mehta.. May his soul rest in peace.

Madhur Bhandarkar: Sad to hear about demise of the Cinematographer Ashok Mehta who changed the vision of Indian Cinema RIP !!! Sanjay Suri: First Gautam Rajadhakshya , Prabhuddha Das Gupta and now Ashok Mehta. What a loss! Men who made our world of visual art richer.

Aftab Shivdasani : Just got news on the passing of yet another eminent personality – Mr.Ashok Mehta, veteran & ace cinematographer. Prayers for his soul, RIP.

Ken Ghosh : Really saddened by the news of the death of Ashok Mehta – The man I learnt so much from, my guru.

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