{
  "id": 3461813,
  "title": "'Forever Grateful': Ajay Devgn Pays Tribute To Kuku Kohli, Filmmaker Who Launched His Bollywood Career With Phool Aur Kaante",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/forever-grateful-ajay-devgn-pays-tribute-to-kuku-kohli-filmmaker-who",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T07:49:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/forever-grateful-ajay-devgn-pays-tribute-to-kuku-kohli-filmmaker-who-launched-his-bollywood-career-with-phool-aur-kaante"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai: Actor Ajay Devgn mourned the loss of late filmmaker Kuku Kohli on Wednesday, expressing his profound gratitude for the director's role in launching his career. Kohli, known as Avtar Kohli, passed away at the age of 77 following a massive heart attack. Devgn credited the director for changing the course of his life forever, stating that Kohli's faith in him will forever be cherished. The filmmaker, who began his journey in Bollywood with Kohli's film Phool Aur Kaante, will be deeply missed. Devgn penned his tribute on Instagram, referring to Kohli as Kuku ji and wishing him Om Shanti. Born to legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, Kohli directed several notable films, including Kohraam, Suhaag, and Haqeeqat, throughout his illustrious career. He is survived by his actor wife Aruna Irani and two daughters from a previous marriage.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: Actor Ajay Devgn on Wednesday paid tribute to late filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who launched his Bollywood career with the 1991 film \"Phool Aur Kaante\", saying the director changed the course of his life forever. Kohli, whose real name was Avtar Kohli, died on Tuesday following a massive heart attack. He was 77. Some people change the course of your life forever. Kuku ji was one of those people…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}