Brij Katyal, writer of Shashi Kapoor's Jab Jab Phool Khile, passes away

Veteran film writer Brij Katyal, who penned the story of the Shashi Kapoor and Nanda-starrer Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), passed away in Mumbai on Thursday (13 September) evening.

Sharing the news, writer-director-media strategist and a close associate, Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, told IANS that he was suffering from cancer.

Katyal was admitted to the Shanti Avedana Ashram located in Mount Merry, Bandra, where he died.

"Brijji was all of 16 even as an octogenarian. His energy was infectious. I took my baby steps into writing assisting him in penning his scripts... He was always wanting me to direct, finding producers for me. When my short film Saare Sapne Apne Hain travelled to 53 festivals, he was happier than me," Iyer said.

Katyal also wrote the story of many TV serials including Dillagi and Saans which was directed by Neena Gupta.

Renu Sharan, one of the producers who worked with Katyal, said, "He wrote many scripts for us, the first being Dillagi. His characters were very real."