Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

PIX: Bollywood stars bid farewell to Ashok Mehta

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Manisha Koirala with Ashok Mehta's wife Neerja, Arjun Rampal, Mehr Jessia

Ace cinematographer Ashok Mehta succumbed to lung cancer on August 15. He was 66.

His last rites took place at Shastri Nagar crematorium in Santa Cruz, a western suburb of Mumbai, and quite a few Bollywood stars turned up to say goodbye.

Manisha Koirala, who considered Ashok Mehta as her guide and philosopher, provided a lot of support to Mehta's wife Neerja.

Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia was also spotted consoling Neerja.

Arjun and Manisha had acted in Moksha, the directorial debut of Ashok Mehta.

Manisha Koirala

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Manisha Koirala with Neerja and other mourners

Manisha Koirala cancelled her birthday party celebrations on August 16 as soon as she heard of Mehta's death.

Besides Moksha, they had also worked together in Gupt and Mehbooba.

Shah Rukh Khan

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan, who worked with Ashok Mehta in Chalte Chalte, arrived to pay his last respects.

Shekhar Kapur, Subhash Ghai, Manisha Koirala

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Shekhar Kapur, Subhash Ghai, Manisha Koirala and Ashok Mehta's wife

Subhash Ghai worked extensively with Mehta in films like Saudagar, Khalnayak and Ram Lakhan. He was spotted at the funeral, along with Shekhar Kapoor, who worked with the ace cinematographer in Bandit Queen.

Priyanka Chopra, Danny Denzongpa

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Priyanka Chopra and Danny Denzongpa

Danny Denzongpa and Priyanka Chopra were spotted chatting at the funeral.

Shashi Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Shashi Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor

Shashi Kapoor had worked with Mehta in Utsav. He arrived at the funeral with son Kunal (right).

Ranjeet, Shashi Kapoor, Anupam Shah

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Ranjeet, Shashi Kapoor and Anupam Shah

Ranjeet greets Shashi Kapoor, as television actor Anupam Shah looks on.

Gulshan Grover, Arshad Warsi, Vivek Mushran

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Gulshan Grover, Arshad Warsi and Vivek Mushran

Gulshan Grover, Arshad Warsi and Vivek Mushran caught up with each other at the funeral.

Boney Kapoor

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Arshad Warsi and Boney Kapoor

Arshad Warsi greets Boney Kapoor as he arrives at the venue.

Sanjay Kapoor, Rajat Rawail, Robin Bhatt

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Sanjay Kapoor, Rajat Rawail and Robin Bhatt
Actor Sanjay Kapoor, producer Rajat Rawail and writer Robin Bhatt paid their last respects to the cinematographer.

Dia Mirza

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Dia Mirza
Dia Mirza tweeted, 'This man was a real Tiger! He would roar the word "Bachche"! Kind soul. Ace DOP. Ace Family man. Ace Friend. Ace Countryman. RIP Ashok Mehta.'

Pallavi Joshi

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Pallavi Joshi

Pallavi Joshi was also spotted at the funeral.

Govind Nihalini

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
Govind Nihalini

Not many know that director Govind Nihalani was supposed to be the cinematographer of Aparna Sen's brilliant 36 Chowringhee Lane. He couldn't do the film then, as he was working on Ben Kingsley-starrer Gandhi, and Ashok Mehta bagged the project.

JP Dutta

Last updated on: August 17, 2012 19:11 IST
J P Dutta

Filmmaker J P Dutta also attended the funeral.