Bollywood bids goodbye to Prakash Mehra

Legendary filmmaker Prakash Mehra passed away in the early hours of Sunday in a hospital in Mumbai, after a prolonged illness. He was 69.

Among the first to pay their last respects to the director were Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. Mehra and Amitabh had made quite a few blockbusters like Zanjeer, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Laawaris, Namak Halal, Sharabi and Hera Pheri. Their last film together was Jadugar in 1989.

Famous yesteryear villain Ranjeet was one of the pallbearers at Mehra's funeral, held on May 18 at the Oshiwara Cremation Grounds, Mumbai.

Ranjeet had worked in seven Mehra films including Laawaris, Namak Halal, Muqaddar Ka Sikander and Sharaabi.

Mehra's directorial debut was Haseena Maan Jayegi in 1968. But it was 1971's Mela that became his first hit. The film brought together brothers Feroz and Sanjay Khan (in the picture) for the first time on silver screen.