Film maker Yash Johar cremated

Noted film maker Yash Johar was consigned to flames at the Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar on Sunday.

Family friends and relatives gathered to pay their last respects to the veteran film maker, who had passed away yesterday due to a severe lung infection. He had been admitted to the Leelavati Hospital last week.

His body brought was brought to the crematorium from his Pali Hill residence by ambulance. Yash Johar's son, noted film maker Karan Johar, lit the funeral pyre at 11 am.

The 75-year-old Yash Johar had passed away at 950 pm in Mumbai on Saturday night.

Industrialist Anil Ambani, actor-turned-politician Sunil Dutt, media personality Rajeev Shukla, superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan were present during the funeral rites.

"It's big loss for the film industry. We had a very good relationship. He always considered my problem to be his problem. I will never forget his kindness. Our relationship was very old. It is very difficult to find such persons anymore," Sunil Dutt said.

Film director Madhur Bhandarkar said, "He was very good man with great calibre, and he was a very down to earth person. It is a big loss to the film industry."

Veteran film actor Jeetendra said, "He was great person. Whether you worked with him or not, he would always develop a good relationship with people."

Yash Chopra, Dilip Kumar, Rani Mukharjee, Preity Zinta, Fardeen Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Govind Nihlani, Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik Roshan, Rahul Khanna, Amrish Puri, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Uday Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Shekhar Kapoor and wife Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, Javed Akhtar, and many other noted personalities were present to pay their last respects.

Sameer Bhujbal, nephew of former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal, also paid his last
respects to Yash Johar.

After the cremation Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachhan and Uday Chopra stayed back for more than an hour collecting the ashes.

Johar had been put on life support system for past couple of days and had been under constant medical observation.

Actor Prem Chopra described the death as a great loss to the industry and said Yash was a simple person with a helpful nature.

Director duo Abbas-Mustan said the late producer was known practically by every person in the industry because of his generous nature and his ability to stand up during a crisis situation.

Some of the hit films of the late producer are Dostana, Kal Ho Na Ho and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Shah Rukh Khan said, "I have always missed my parents all my life and with Yashji going I feel I have lost a fatherly figure."