“You Broke My Heart”: Nishikant Kamat’s Lai Bhaari Star Riteish Deshmukh Writes Emotional Farewell Note
Director Nishikant Kamat, who was hospitalized for the last several days, has passed away passed away on Monday at Hyderabad’s AIG Hospital. The 50-year-old had been battling liver cirrhosis for two years.
He was admitted to the hospital on July 31 after complaints of fever and excessive fatigue.
Tributes poured in for Kamat who also directed Kamat, who also made the action film Force and the Irrfan Khan-led Madaari.
Riteish Deshmukh, who was also a close friend of the late filmmaker and starred in his 2014 Marathi film Lai Bhaari, shared a few throwback pictures with the late filmmaker on Twitter. In his eulogy piece, Riteish wrote: “You broke my heart Nishi.”
Riteish Deshmukh, in a separate tweet, shared a throwback picture and he wrote: “I will miss you my friend. Nishikant Kamat. Rest in peace.”
Just hours before, Mr Deshmukh had urged for restraint after some media outlets prematurely reported the filmmaker’s death. Ajay Devgn, who starred in Nishikant Kamat’s Drishyam, tweeted: “My equation with Nishikant was not just about Drishyam, a film which he directed with Tabu and me. It was an association that I cherished. He was bright; ever-smiling. He has gone too soon. RIP Nishikant.”
Actress and Deshmukh’s wife Genelia D’Souza also penned a heartfelt note for her ‘life coach’. She worked with Kamat in ‘Force’.
John Abraham, who worked with Nishikant Kamat in films like Force and Rocky Handsome, shared pictures with the late director and tweeted: “Will not get over this …. Rest In Peace.”
Nishikant Kamat was best-known for directing the Hindi remake of Malayalam hit Drishyam – the remake starred Ajay Devgn and Tabu. He also directed Irrfan Khan in Madaariand Mumbai Meri Jaan, and John Abraham in Force and Rocky Handsome. Mr Kamat, also an actor, had roles in Rocky Handsome and some other films such as 2018’s Bhavesh Joshi.
Nishikant Kamat was also prominent in the Marathi film industry. He helmed films like Dombivali Fast, which was his debut as a director, Lai Bhaari and Fugay; he also acted in Fugay, Hava Aney Dey and Saatchya Aat Gharat. Dombivali Fast won the National Award for Best Marathi Film. Mr Kamat served as Creative Producer on last year’s web series The Final Call.