Lekh Tandon

Lekh Tandon (13 February 1929 – 15 October 2017) was an Indian filmmaker and actor. He was known for his works in Bollywood movies and Indian TV serials. He was also the winner of the inaugural Nandi Award for Best Actor. Tandon started his career as an assistant director in RK Films, working with Raj Kapoor in movies like Aag and Barsaat. He learned many aspects of filmmaking from Kapoor, who was his mentor and friend. He made his directorial debut with Professor (1962), starring Shammi Kapoor and Kalpana. The movie was a musical comedy and a box office hit. He went on to direct several other successful movies, such as Prince (1969), Ek Baar Kaho (1980) and Agar Tum Na Hote (1983). His movies were known for their melodious songs, romantic stories and social themes. He also wrote the screenplay for some of his movies, such as Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye (1977), for which he won the Filmfare Best Screenplay Award. He also ventured into TV serials in the late 1980s. His first TV serial was Dil Dariya, which is credited for discovering Shah Rukh Khan, who played the lead role. He also directed other popular TV serials, such as Phir Wahi Talash, Farmaan and Doosra Keval. He was known for his realistic and engaging storytelling and his ability to handle different genres. He also acted in some TV serials, such as Amrapali and Mujrim Hazir. In the 2000s, he started his acting career with movies such as Swades (2004), where he played the role of Kaveri Amma, the foster mother of Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan). He also acted in other movies, such as Rang De Basanti (2006), where he played the role of a freedom fighter, Chennai Express (2013), where he played the role of Rahul's (Shah Rukh Khan) grandfather, and Chaarfutiya Chhokare (2014), where he played the role of a social worker. He was praised for his natural and nuanced performances and his ability to portray different types of characters. He was honoured with a stamp by the Indian government in 2017 and a doctorate from the University of Mumbai in 2018. He was also the recipient of several other awards, such as the Nandi Award, the CineMAA Award and the Zee Cine Award. He died of a chronic disease on 15 October 2017, at his home in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, at the age of 88. He was survived by his two children, Nitin and Gayatri, who are also in the film industry. He is still regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers and actors of Indian cinema and an inspiration for many.