Parineeta Director Pradeep Sarkar Dies Aged 67

New Delhi: Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, best-known for directing films like 'Parineeta', 'Helicopter Eela' and 'Mardaani', among others, has died. He was 67 and was reportedly not keeping well for a long time and was on dialysis. As per Indian Express, he passed away early on Friday morning after his potassium levels dipped. He was rushed to a hospital but couldn't be survived by doctors. The funeral arrangements have been made at a crematorium in Santacruz for 4 pm today, the report mentioned. 

"He passed away between 3.10 am and 3.30 am at Lilavati hospital," his wife Panchali told PTI. He had viral fever on March 22. After administering some medicines his fever subsided but not completely. So he was rushed to the hospital, she said. "By the time we reached the hospital, his vitals started dropping. He was put on a ventilator in the ICU and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The infection attacked his lungs," the director's wife said.

"According to doctors, he had many comorbidities which weakened his immunity. His blood pressure was fluctuating. Since COVID-19 hit him in July 2022, he was quite weak," Panchali said.

Several celebrities from the Hindi film industry took to social media and offered their condolences to the director. Director Hansal Mehta took to Twitter and shared a photo of Pradeep Sarkar, writing, "Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. RIP."

Pradeep Sarkar. Dada. RIP. pic.twitter.com/htxK4PiTLN — Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) March 24, 2023

Ajay Devgn wrote, "The news of Pradeep Sarkar's demise, 'Dada' to some of us is still hard to digest. My deepest condolences. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada."

The news of Pradeep Sarkar's demise, 'Dada' to some of us is still hard to digest.
My deepest condolences _. My prayers are with the departed and his family. RIP Dada _ — Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) March 24, 2023

Actor Manoj Bajpayee retweeted Hansal Mehta's tweet and he wrote: "Ohh! That's so shocking! Rest in peace Dada."

Ohh! That's so shocking!
Rest in peace Dada!!_ https://t.co/wOCqOlVd5Z — manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) March 24, 2023

Actress Neetu Chandra revealed that Pradeep Sarkar was her first director and they first worked together in an advertisement for a footwear brand while she was still in college. Neetu was very close to Sarkar and his sister Madhu. 

Very sad to know about our dearest director @pradeepsrkar dada. I started my career with him. He had an aesthetic talent to make his films look larger than life. From #Parineeta#lagachunrimeindaag to a no. Of movies. Dada, you will be be missed. #RestInPeace __ @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/TDxUOP2quG — Nitu Chandra Srivastava (@nituchandra) March 24, 2023

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli remembered him as a sweet man. He shared the clip from the song 'Pihu Bole' from the movie "Parineeta" on social media. "Shocked and sad to hear about Dada Pradeep Sarkar. Really sweet man. Had lovely conversations about cinema with him. RIP Dada. Here's a song from your film to celebrate you and your cinema," he said in the post.

Sarkar was known for his work in the ad film industry. He also shot the now iconic music videos of songs like Euphoria's 'Dhoom Pichak Dhoom' and 'Maaeri', and Shubha Mudgal's 'Ab Ke Saawan', among many others in the 1990s and early 2000s. He started his career as a filmmaker with brand commercials. He also directed several popular music videos before making a debut as a feature film director with 'Parineeta' in 2005.