Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Ace cinematographer Ashok Mehta succumbed to lung cancer on August 15. He was 66.
His last rites took place at Shastri Nagar crematorium in Santa Cruz, a western suburb of Mumbai, and quite a few Bollywood stars turned up to say goodbye.
Manisha Koirala, who considered Ashok Mehta as her guide and philosopher, provided a lot of support to Mehta's wife Neerja.
Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia was also spotted consoling Neerja.
Arjun and Manisha had acted in Moksha, the directorial debut of Ashok Mehta.
Manisha Koirala
Image: Manisha Koirala with Neerja and other mournersPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Manisha Koirala cancelled her birthday party celebrations on August 16 as soon as she heard of Mehta's death.
Besides Moksha, they had also worked together in Gupt and Mehbooba.
Shah Rukh Khan
Image: Shah Rukh KhanPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Shah Rukh Khan, who worked with Ashok Mehta in Chalte Chalte, arrived to pay his last respects.
Shekhar Kapur, Subhash Ghai, Manisha Koirala
Image: Shekhar Kapur, Subhash Ghai, Manisha Koirala and Ashok Mehta's wifePhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Subhash Ghai worked extensively with Mehta in films like Saudagar, Khalnayak and Ram Lakhan. He was spotted at the funeral, along with Shekhar Kapoor, who worked with the ace cinematographer in Bandit Queen.
Priyanka Chopra, Danny Denzongpa
Image: Priyanka Chopra and Danny DenzongpaPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Danny Denzongpa and Priyanka Chopra were spotted chatting at the funeral.
Shashi Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor
Image: Shashi Kapoor and Kunal KapoorPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Shashi Kapoor had worked with Mehta in Utsav. He arrived at the funeral with son Kunal (right).
Ranjeet, Shashi Kapoor, Anupam Shah
Image: Ranjeet, Shashi Kapoor and Anupam ShahPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Ranjeet greets Shashi Kapoor, as television actor Anupam Shah looks on.
Gulshan Grover, Arshad Warsi, Vivek Mushran
Image: Gulshan Grover, Arshad Warsi and Vivek MushranPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Gulshan Grover, Arshad Warsi and Vivek Mushran caught up with each other at the funeral.
Boney Kapoor
Image: Arshad Warsi and Boney KapoorPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Arshad Warsi greets Boney Kapoor as he arrives at the venue.
Sanjay Kapoor, Rajat Rawail, Robin Bhatt
Image: Sanjay Kapoor, Rajat Rawail and Robin BhattPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Dia Mirza
Image: Dia MirzaPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Pallavi Joshi
Image: Pallavi JoshiPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Pallavi Joshi was also spotted at the funeral.
Govind Nihalini
Image: Govind NihaliniPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Not many know that director Govind Nihalani was supposed to be the cinematographer of Aparna Sen's brilliant 36 Chowringhee Lane. He couldn't do the film then, as he was working on Ben Kingsley-starrer Gandhi, and Ashok Mehta bagged the project.
JP Dutta
Image: J P DuttaPhotographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Filmmaker J P Dutta also attended the funeral.
Comment
article