Cinematographer of films like Hum (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), Judwaa (1997), Rangeela (1996) and Raja Hindustani (1997), WB Rao passed away in Mumbai today. Rao had been admitted to the Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu on Monday, 15 January, in critical condition.
Starting his career in the late 1960s as an assistant cinematographer to Pravin Bhatt, Rao went on to have a stellar career over four decades. From films like Hum (1991) to the Salman Khan starrer, Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar (2006), Rao was a constant presence behind the camera.
Through his career, Rao worked closely with directors like David Dhawan, for whom he shot Judwaa and Dharmesh Darshan, with whom he worked on Raja Hindustani and Dhadkan (2000).
As a technician, Rao was respected for his use of lights and colours, and held a senior position at the Western Indian Cinematographer's Association (WICA). Rao worked with a range of actors from the late Sanjeev Kumar, Mala Sinha to Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Juhi Chawla.