Barjatya family, industry friends bid Rajkumar Barjatya farewell

The last rites of producer Rajkumar Barjatya took place this evening at the Worli crematorium in central Mumbai.

Rajkumar Barjatya, managing director of Rajshri Productions, died of a heart ailment this morning at a hospital in Mumbai. He was 77.

The last rites were performed by his son and well-known filmmaker Sooraj R Barjatya. The entire family was present, including Kamal Kumar Barjatya, also MD of Rajshri Productions.

A number of prominent names from the film industry were present to bid Rajkumar Barjatya a final goodbye. These included Mahesh Bhatt and wife Soni Razdan, Mohnish Bahl, Satish Kaushik, Jayantilal Gada, Swara Bhasker, Rupali Ganguly, Gufi Paintal, Bijon Das Gupta, and Sameer Dattani. 

Superstar Salman Khan, who shares a close bond with the Barjatyas and whose career got a big boost with roles in Rajshri's Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), could not attend the funeral. His make-up man Raju Nag represented him. Khan has always credited the Barjatyas for his stardom. 

Actress Bhagyashree also became an overnight star after Maine Pyar Kiya opposite Salman Khan. She paid her last respects to Rajkumar Barjatya at the family's residence in Worli. Veteran actor and filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar did the same. 

When Tarachand Barjatya started Rajshri Productions back in the 1960s, Rajkumar Barjatya, his son, played a big role in laying a solid foundation for the banner. He started as an associate producer in the 1970s and became a full-time producer from the 1990s onwards.

Remembering Rajkumar Barjatya: The man who silently and selflessly built Rajshri Productions

His last film Hum Chaar (2019) was released just last week.