Condoling the death of writer-filmmaker Neeraj Vora, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the “energetic” director will be “remembered for his films and warm nature”.
In his message, Modi said: “Saddened by the demise of Neeraj Vora. An energetic and creative personality, he will be remembered for his films and warm nature.”
“My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour,” he added.
Vora, an actor, writer and director known for his humorous streak on and off screen, died early on Thursday, months after being comatose.
Neeraj Vora wrote “Rangeela”, directed “Phir Hera Pheri” and acted in “Bol Bachchan” among several other projects.
For months altogether, a room in filmmaker Firoz Nadiadwala’s home was converted into a fully functional ICU for Vora.
Born in a Gujarati family, Vora came to be known in the film industry for the way he tackled humour through his acting, writing and directorial projects.
As a writer, he worked on films like “Rangeela”, “Akele Hum Akele Tum”, “Josh”, “Badshah”, “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke”, “Awara Paagal Deewana”, “Deewane Huye Paagal”, “Ajnabee” and “Hera Pheri” and “Phir Hera Pheri”.
His directorial projects include “Khiladi 420” and “Phir Hera Pheri”. He was to direct “Hera Pheri III”, but uncertainty loomed large over the project after he suffered a stroke in October 2016.
Early tributes and condolences to Vora from the film world included names like Paresh Rawal and Rahul Dholakia.
“Neeraj Vora – The writer and director of ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ and many hit films is no more… Aum Shanti,” Paresh tweeted.
Actor Tusshara Kapoor said: “Shocked and saddened to hear of the demise of Neeraj Voraji. Had cast me for ‘Golmaal’ and directed me in the unreleased ‘Run Bhola Run’. RIP sir.”
Dholakia described him as “one of India’s finest humorist screenwriter”, while actor Parvin Dabas said he was “one of the most brilliant comic minds in Hindi cinema”.
“He was a friend, relative and also the writer of my first ‘Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar’. R.I.P,” Dholaia said.
Actor Viveck Vaswani remembered Neeraj, with whom he was friends since they did “Raju” together.
Writer Milap Zaveri said: “You will surely make the heavens laugh.”