Filmmaker Rajat Mukherjee died yesterday morning in Jaipur, Rajasthan, of a kidney ailment. He was in his late fifties.
The director was known for films such as Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001) and Road (2002). Both were thrillers about obsessive psychopaths, a genre rarely attempted in Hindi cinema at that time.
Manoj Bajpayee, who had starred in Road, broke the news on Twitter yesterday. He wrote, 'My friend and director of Road (2002), Rajat Mukherjee passed away in the early hours today in Jaipur after a long battle with illness... Still can’t believe that we will never meet or discuss our work ever again. Khush reh jaha bhi reh [Be happy wherever you are].'
My friend and director of Road ,Rajat Mukherjee passed away in the early hours today in Jaipur after a long battle with illness!!! Rest in peace Rajat !!Still can’t believe that we will never meet or discuss our work ever again.khush reh jaha bhi reh.🙏🙏🙏
— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) July 19, 2020
Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya actress Urmila Matondkar remembered Mukherjee as a talented director and a livewire personality.
Saddened to hear sad demise of my friend n director of “Pyaar tune kya kiya” Rajat Mukherjee..a talented n live wire personality who made this rare Gem of a Film. Deepest condolences to his family 🙏🏼
— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) July 19, 2020
Rest in peace dear friend 🙏🏼🕉 pic.twitter.com/FFAnKWyD8p
Filmmakers Anubhav Sinha and Hansal Mehta and actors Vivek Oberoi and Rajpal Yadav also paid tributes to the director on Twitter.
Another friend gone too soon. Director Rajat Mukherjee (Pyar Tune Kya Kiya, Road). He was dealing with multiple health situations past few months in Jaipur. Go well mate.
— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) July 19, 2020
Just got news about the passing away of a dear friend. Rajat Mukherjee director of Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and Road was a friend from our early, early struggles in Bombay. Many meals, many bottles of Old Monk consumed. Many more to consume in another world. Will miss you dear friend.
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) July 19, 2020
Truly sad to hear about the passing away of #RajatMukherjee. Will always cherish the memories of the wonderful experiences we had while shooting for #Road. I hope and pray he’s happy and at eternal peace wherever he is. Heartfelt condolences to the family 🙏 pic.twitter.com/yuwMJN5cpj
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) July 19, 2020
This is to heart breaking news.
— Rajpal Yadav (@rajpalofficial) July 19, 2020
Rajat Mukherjee, not only the director of films Road, Pyar Tune Kya Kiya, Love in Nepal and many more but a very dear friend, has passed away today.
Words can't express my grief, Dada, you left too soon.
I will miss you .#RipRajatDa #Rip #peace pic.twitter.com/EZzBUEf2mv