A wave of tributes has poured in from Bollywood following the death of journalist-turned-director Pritish Nandy, who passed away on 8 January at the age of 73. A multifaceted personality, Nandy was a celebrated poet, painter, filmmaker, and politician who left an indelible mark on Indian cinema and culture.
Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, who starred in the 2004 film Chameli, produced by Pritish and his daughter Rangita’s Pritish Nandy Communications, shared heartfelt memories on Instagram. Posting pictures from the sets, including one showing a candid conversation with Nandy, she captioned the images with a red heart, folded hands, and infinity emojis.
Director Sudhir Mishra, who helmed Chameli, credited Nandy for changing his life. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Mishra said, “Pritish Nandy changed my life. Only he could [greenlight] Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi. He taught me so much. I am so sorry, Pritish Da, I couldn’t come up with an idea for the sequel.”
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta called Nandy a patron of his most personal work. On X, he wrote, “Sad, sad news. My most personal work has lost one of its greatest patrons. You lived well, Mr Nandy. Will miss you terribly. Deepest condolences to the entire family.”
Actor Anil Kapoor, shocked by the loss of his close friend, shared a monochrome picture of Nandy. “Shocked and heartbroken by the loss of my dear friend Pritish Nandy,” he wrote. “A fearless editor, a brave soul, and a man of his word, he embodied integrity like no other.”
Sanjay Dutt, who worked in Nandy-produced films like Kaante (2002) and Shabd (2005), described him as “a true creative genius and a kind soul” in a heartfelt post on X.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher confirmed the news of Nandy’s passing due to cardiac arrest. Sharing black-and-white images of Nandy, he penned an emotional note recalling their friendship: “Deeply saddened and shocked to know about the demise of one of my dearest and closest friends. He was my support system and a great source of strength in my initial days in Mumbai.”
Born in Bhagalpur, Bihar, Nandy hailed from a Bengali family and identified as an agnostic. His career spanned journalism, art, poetry, film production, and politics. A former editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India, he was also a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing Maharashtra under the then-united Shiv Sena.
Pritish Nandy’s contributions to literature, cinema, and journalism leave behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire.