Eminent writer-director Sagar Sarhadi who shot into fame after he wrote dialogues for the 1976 hit Kabhi Kabhie and blockbusters Silsila and Noori, died in Mumbai on Monday. He was 88.
Sarhadi breathed his last at his residence, in Mumbai’s Sion locality, his nephew filmmaker Ramesh Talwar told PTI.
"He passed away shortly before midnight. He wasn't keeping well for some time and had even stopped eating. He passed away peacefully," Talwar said.
Born as Ganga Sagar Talwar in Baffa, near Abbottabad city, now Pakistan, the writer is said to have adapted the title 'Sarhadi' to carry with him the connection of the frontier province, after he migrated to Delhi at the age of 12.
He had won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue for his work in Kabhi Kabhie starring Amitabh Bachchan, late actor Shashi Kapoor, Raakhee, Waheeda Rehman, late actor Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. It was directed by Yash Chopra.
After Kabhi Kabhie, Sagar Sarhadi wrote dialogues for the 1979 film Noorie, 1989 film Chandni and the 1981 movie Silsila.
While Chandni featured actors Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna in the lead roles, Silsila, directed by Yash Chopra, starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha.
In 1982, Sarhadi turned director with Bazaar, starring Supriya Pathak Shah, Farooq Shaikh, Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah.
Sarhadi also wrote dialogues for superstar Shah Rukh Khan's debut Deewana in 1992 and Hrithik Roshan's debut Kaho Na Pyaar Hai.
Among the other films that the veteran wrote include Faasle, starring Sunil Dutt with Rekha, Farooq Shaikh and Deepti Naval, Rang, Anubhav (starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja); Zindagi, Karmayogi, Karobaar, , Chausar and Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai which featured Hrithik Roshan.
He is survived by his nephews and nieces.
Javed Akhtar paid his tribute on Twitter : “Sagar Sarhadi a veteran theater and film writer who wrote films like Kabhi Kabhi, Noori and directed Bazaar has passed away . My heart felt condolences to the late bachelor’s nephew Ramesh Talwar.”
Mourning the filmmaker, actor Jackie Shroff posted an old black and white photograph of him on his Instagram handle and wrote: "Will miss you…R.I.P."
Director Hansal Mehta also mourned the death of Sagar Sarhadi and tweeted: "Rest in peace, Sagar Sarhadi sahab."
