15 Popular Bollywood Directors Who Lived More Than 90 Years
Posted On: 08 Oct 2021 | Last Updated : 19 Dec 2024 | Views : 2.3k
Aging is a natural process among humans and aging gracefully and accepting the way you look is something many of us do not believe in. With so many ways available to keep yourself young and fit, make people guess your age, and to look good gives all the more reasons to our Bollywood celebrities to survive in the business. But the same case doesn’t apply to our Bollywood directors who believe in aging the natural way because that’s the advantage they enjoy for not being in front of the camera or constantly in the public eye. The existence and longevity of humans have increased while it's still regarded as a rarity if someone has seen more than ninety summers in his or her life. Looking back at the shelf life of our Bollywood celebrities, let’s take a peek-a-boo at some of our renowned Bollywood directors who lived more than 90 years and celebrated life the way it should be.
1. Bhalji Pendharkar (3 May 1897 – 26 Nov 1994) – 97 Years
If one goes by the record veteran renowned filmmaker Bhalji Pendharkar was probably one of the first Bollywood directors who crossed the 90+ age barrier which is commendable. The director, producer, actor, and writer who started his career in the silent era was active in Hindi as well as Marathi films. Though he made his acting debut in Prithivi Vallabh in 1924 but is more remembered Bajirao Mastani, Rani Rupmati, Alakh Niranjan, Maharathi Karna, Savitri, Chhatrapati Shivaji, etc. of his 42-odd directorials. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1991.
2. Mrinal Sen (14 May 1923 – 30 Dec 2018) – 95 Years
Known as the man who founded the ‘New Cinema’ film movement in India, Mrinal Sen too features in the list of Hindi movie directors who crossed 90+ age. He was a writer, producer, and director who joined the Indian People’s Theatre Association before taking up direction. He directed films primarily in Bengali and Hindi and was known for being contemporaries to Ritwik Ghatak, Tapan Sinha, and Satyajit Ray. Some of his notable works in Bollywood were Bhuvan Shome, Ek Adhuri Kahani, Mrigayaa, Khandhar, Ek Din Achanak, etc., while was a recipient of multiple national and international film awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2003. He had been suffering from age-related ailments for many years till he breathed his last in 2018.
3. B. R. Chopra (22 April 1914 – 5 Nov 2008) – 94 Years
One of Bollywood’s most respected movie Mughal filmmakers, Baldev Raj Chopra or B.R. Chopra is also listed among Bollywood directors who lived more than 90 years. Known as one of the architects of the golden era of Hindi cinema, he started off as a journalist before making his directorial debut with Afsana starring Ashok Kumar, Veena, and Jeevan. The success of Afsana helped him make immortal classics like Ek Hi Rasta, Kanoon, Naya Daur, Waqt, Hamraaz, Dhund, Insaf Ka Tarazu, Nikaah, and the epic TV serial Mahabharat. He was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1998.
4. G. P. Sippy (14 Sept 1914 – 25 Dec 2007) – 93 Years
Gopaldas Parmanand Sipahimalani or better known as G.P. Sippy who produced the blockbuster Sholay in 1975 which was directed by his son Ramesh Sippy. G.P. Sippy was an actor, writer, producer, and director who helmed movies like Marine Drive (1955), Adil-E-Jahangir (1955), Shrimati 420 (1956), Lighthouse (1958), Bhai-Bahen (1959), etc. before turning full-time producer. As a producer, he produced films such as Brahmachari (1968), Andaz (1971), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Sholay (1975), Shaan (1980), Saagar (1985), Aatish (1994), and Zamaana Deewana (1995), etc.
5. Homi Wadia (22 May 1911 – 10 Dec 2004) – 93 Years
Producer-director Homi Wadia who had co-founded the Wadia Movietone productions in 1933 along with his brother filmmaker J.B.H. Wadia, was known for churning out action and adventure movies from the 30s to 70s. Homi who founded Basant Pictures in 1942 after the closure of Wadia Movietone, directed over 40 films, including Hunterwali (1935), Miss Frontier Mail (1936), Diamond Queen (1940), Jungle Princess (1942), Alibaba and 40 Thieves (1954) and Hatim Tai (1956). He was married to actress and stunt woman Fearless Nadia who featured in most of his films.
6. Babubhai Mistry (5 Sept 1918 – 20 Dec 2010) – 92 Years
The man who gave special effects a new dimension to Hindi films was none other than Babubhai Mistry who was a man of many talents rolled in one. He was a director, writer, art director, cameraman, composer, and a master of special effects who made some breath-taking scenes look believable on the big screen. A regular art director for various movies produced Wadia Movietone, Babubhai besides creating some extravagant sets for films had directed hits like Sampoorna Ramayana (1961), King Kong (1962), Parasmani (1963), Mahabharat (1965), Bhagwan Parshuram (1970), Kalyug Aur Ramayan (1987) and Hatim Tai (1990), etc.
7. J. Om Prakash (24 Jan 1927 – 7 Aug 2019) – 92 Years
Born in Sialkot, Punjab in 1927 as Jay Om Prakash better known as J. Om Prakash, started off his Bollywood career as a producer with some successful films like Aas Ka Panchhi, Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, and Aankhon Aankhon Mein, etc. He turned director with the Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz hit film Aap Ki Kasam in 1974. He later went on to produce and direct superhits like Apnapan, Aasha, Aas Paas, Arpan, Aakhir Kyon? and Aadmi Khilona Hai, etc. He is the father-in-law of actor-director Rakesh Roshan while Hrithik Roshan is his grandson.
8. Vishram Bedekar (13 Aug 1906 – 30 Oct 1998) – 92 Years
Vishwanath Chintamani Bedekar or Vishram Bedekar was born in Amravati in 1906 and was a writer and director in Marathi as well as Hindi films. Though he started his career by directing Marathi films he later turned to Bollywood where some of his notable directorial works were in films like Mera Munna, Do Bhai, Rustom Sohrab, Ek Nannhi Munni Ladki Thi, and Jai Jawan Jai Makan, etc. He went on to see 92 summers before breathing his last in 1998.
9. Arjun Hingorani (15 Nov 1926 - 5 May 2018) – 91 Years
Film director Arjun Hingorani who initially was known as A. Hingo, a shortened version of his name, was also known for having three ‘K’s in his movie titles. Arjun Hingorani who initially struggled along with Dharmendra to get a break in films signed his first film as director for Diwali Ki Raat in 1956. He gave Dharmendra his first break as an actor in Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere in 1960 after which he repeated him in all his films including Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Kahani Kismat Ki, Khel Khilari Ka, Katilon Ke Kaatil and Kaun Kare Kurbanie.
10. Rajkumar Kohli (14 Sept 1930 - 24 Nov 2023) – 93 Years
One of the oldest living Bollywood directors was Rajkumar Kohli who was famous for churning out successful multi-starrer action pot-boilers at the box office such as Kahani Hum Subb Ki, Nagin, Muqabla, Jaani Dushman, Badle Ki Aag, Naukar Biwi Ka, Insaniyat Ke Dushman, Aulad Ke Dushman, and Qahar. Before wielding the megaphone, he was a successful producer who produced films like Lootera, Gora Aur Kala, Moojrim, Shart, Danka, etc. He was married to actress Nishi Kohli while his son is actor Armaan Kohli. He breathed his last on 24 November 2023 at his residence in Mumbai at the age of 93.
11. M. S. Sathyu (3 July 1930) – 94 Years
Mysore Shrivinas Sathyu or simply M.S. Sathyu started his film journey by assisting filmmaker Chetan Anand in Haqeeqat after which he directed Ek Tha Chotu Ek Tha Motu which gained critical acclaim. But it was his film Garm Hava (1973), which got him into the limelight that was based on India’s partition. This was followed by Kanneshwara Rama (1977), Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya (1981), and Sookha, the Hindi version of the Kannada movie Bara (1983) and a few Kannada films.
12. Basu Chatterjee (10 Jan 1930 – 4 June 2020) – 90 Years
Basu Chatterjee, the writer, actor, producer and director was known for his simple middle-class storytelling on the big screen. Basuda started his Bollywood journey by assisting filmmaker Basu Bhattacharya in the 60s before making his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film Sara Akash in 1969. He later went on to write and direct many successful comedies like Piya Ka Ghar, Chhoti Si Baat, Chitchor, Priyatama, Khatta Meetha, Dillagi, Baton Baton Mein, Shaukeen, Lakhon Ki Baat, Chameli Ki Shaadi, etc.
13. K. Viswanath (19 February 1930 - 02 February 2023) – 92 Years
Born in 1930 and regarded as one of Indian cinema's most sensitive filmmakers, K. Viswanath needs no introduction to Bollywood and south Indian movie lovers. He started his film career as an audiographer in Telugu cinema in 1957 and thereafter shifted to directing, writing, and acting. A recipient of many National and Filmfare awards and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2017, some of his biggest hits in Telugu have been Swati Mutyam, Sagara Sangamam, Sirivennela, Swayam Krushi, Sankarabharanam, Sagara Sangamam, Sruthilayalu, Swarnakamalam, etc. He made his Bollywood directorial debut with the Rishi Kapoor and Jaya Prada starrer Sargam (1979) and later went on to direct notable family dramas like Kaamchor (1982), Shubh Kaamna (1983), Jaag Utha Insan (1984), Sanjog (1985), Eeshwar (1989), Sangeet (1992), Dhanwaan (1993), etc.
14. Tarun Majumdar (08 January 1931 - 04 July 2022) – 91 Years
Well-known Bengali and Hindi filmmaker, writer, and lyricist Tarun Majumdar also happen to be a part of the elite club of Bollywood directors who lived for more than ninety years. Tarun Majumdar made his directorial debut with the Bengali film Chaowa Pawa which was released in 1959. Some of his other popular Bengali films were Palatak (1963), Nimantran (1971), Kuheli (1971), Shriman Prithviraj (1973), Fuleswari (1974), Sansar Simante (1975), Ganadevata (1978), Dadar Kirti (1980), Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), etc. He made his directorial debut in Bollywood in 1969 with the Biswajit starrer Rahgir and later followed it up with his Bengali remake Balika Badhu (1976) which starred Sachin and Rajni Sharma. He was a recipient of four National Film Awards and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1990.
15. Shyam Benegal (14 December 1934) - 90 Years
Born in Tirumalagiri, Hyderabad State, British India (currently Telangana, India) in 1943, Shyam Benegal is regarded as one of the pioneers of parallel cinema. A director, screenwriter and producer, he started his career as a documentary filmmaker and slowly shifted to parellel cinema with the much-acclaimed film, Ankur in 1974. He later directed a gamut of films including Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), Mandi (1983), Trikal (1985), Zubeidaa (2001), and others. He has received several accolades, including eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award and a Nandi Award. He was also honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005, the Padma Shri in 1976, and the Padma Bhushan in 1991.
