# Phool Aur Kaante Director Kuku Kohli Passes Away: A Look Back at His 30-Year Career and Secret Wedding to Aruna Irani

> Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Kuku Kohli passed away on Tuesday evening following a cardiac arrest. Over a three-decade career, he directed hit films including Ajay Devgn's debut Phool Aur Kaante.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Bollywood · **Published:** 2026-08-26 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/ajay-devgn-ko-loncha-karane-vale-nirdeshaka-kuku-kohli-ka-nidhana-janie-unaka-philmi-saphara-aura-aruna-irani-snga-gupta-shadi-ka--22252 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Kuku Kohli, Aruna Irani, Ajay Devgn, Phool Aur Kaante, Bollywood Director, Bollywood

Renowned Hindi film director, screenwriter, and editor Kuku Kohli passed away on Tuesday. He had been admitted to the hospital two days earlier after suffering a heart attack. His condition deteriorated rapidly on Tuesday evening, leading to a fatal cardiac arrest. The news of his passing was formally confirmed by the spokesperson of his wife, veteran actress Aruna Irani. Having dedicated nearly three decades to the Hindi film industry, Kuku Kohli left behind a legacy of iconic commercial cinema.

## Early Life in Peshawar and Apprenticeship Under Raj Kapoor
Born in Peshawar in June 1949, Kuku Kohli built his filmmaking foundation alongside some of Indian cinema's most revered directors. Early in his career, he worked closely with showman Raj Kapoor, refining his craft on legendary titles such as 'Bobby', 'Prem Rog', and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'. Later, he served as the second-unit director on 'Betaab', the debut vehicle for Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh. He was also involved in the making of the Sunny Deol and Dimple Kapadia starrer 'Arjun'.

## Directorial Debut with 'Phool Aur Kaante' and Box Office Success
Kuku Kohli made his full directorial debut in 1991 with the action drama 'Phool Aur Kaante', which marked the Bollywood debut of actor Ajay Devgn. The movie became a massive commercial triumph at the box office and established Kohli as a mainstream hitmaker. Following this success, he went on to direct several memorable films, including 'Haqeeqat' and 'Anari No. 1'. Over his thirty-year career, he collaborated with a star-studded ensemble of actors including Dharmendra, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Amrish Puri, Twinkle Khanna, and Karisma Kapoor.

## First Marriage to Rita Kohli and Family Life
In his personal life, Kuku Kohli was first married to Rita Kohli, with whom he had two daughters named Pooja Kohli and Karishma Kohli. Rita Kohli suffered from prolonged health complications before eventually passing away. Throughout his years as an active filmmaker, Kohli maintained a quiet private life away from public scrutiny for the sake of his family.

## Secret 1990 Marriage to Actress Aruna Irani
Prior to Rita's death, Kuku Kohli secretly wed veteran actress Aruna Irani in 1990. The couple kept their marriage hidden from the public eye for a long duration, and they had no children together. Addressing the secrecy in a past interview with ANI, Aruna Irani explained that she never wished to hurt anyone's feelings. She shared that she lacked the courage to make their marriage public while Kohli's first wife Rita was still alive, choosing instead to remain silent until much later.

## What this means for you
**For Cinema Enthusiasts:**

- Bollywood loses a veteran filmmaker who launched superstar Ajay Devgn and shaped mainstream 90s Hindi commercial cinema.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How did Kuku Kohli pass away?
Kuku Kohli passed away on Tuesday evening following a cardiac arrest, two days after being hospitalized for a heart attack.

### 2. Which film marked Kuku Kohli's directorial debut?
Kuku Kohli made his directorial debut in 1991 with 'Phool Aur Kaante', which was also the debut film of actor Ajay Devgn.

### 3. Who are the members of Kuku Kohli's family?
Kuku Kohli is survived by his second wife, actress Aruna Irani, and two daughters, Pooja Kohli and Karishma Kohli, from his first marriage to Rita Kohli.

### 4. When did Kuku Kohli and Aruna Irani get married?
Kuku Kohli and Aruna Irani were secretly married in 1990.

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