The veteran filmmaker and actor Lekh Tandon passed away on Sunday evening at his residence in Powai, Mumbai. The funeral of the actor will be held today on 16th October. However, the details of his death have not been revealed yet.
Lekh Tandon had made many television shows and he also had acted in films. He had shared the screen with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan also. He acted with Shah Rukh Khan in films like Chennai Express and Swades. In Chennai Express, Lekh Tandon played Shah Rukh Khan's grandfather. He even played Aamir Khan's grandfather in Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra's film Rang De Basanti.
He won Best Screenplay Award for his movie Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye with Vrajendra Gaur and Madhusudan Kalekar in 1978.
Sad dat #LekhTandon passed away but wonderful dat he did so with his boots on.He was working on his latest film with a newcomers zeal . RIP
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) October 15, 2017
Very VERSATILE Director who gave several HITS!
— Ashutosh Gowariker (@AshGowariker) October 15, 2017
Was privileged to work with u in Swades!
Will always miss ur gentleness Sir! RIP #LekhTandon pic.twitter.com/B4m1M96Cjc
A storyteller par excellence... A wonderful person... RIP #LekhTandon ji... Heartfelt condolences!
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) October 15, 2017
Lekh Tandon actorgoodbye #LekhTandon Extraordinary film maker/story teller of his times. Never ever refused an actor at his doorstep some warmth advice n tea
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) October 15, 2017
His directorial film Amrapali starring Sunil Dutt and Vyjayanthimala went to 39th Academy Awards as Best Foreign Language Film. Lekh Tandon also had the credit for giving a chance to a superstar of Bollywood. In 1988, Lekh Tandon gave chance to Shah Rukh Khan for working in his show Dil Dariya, however, the shooting of the film got delayed.
On the other hand, Shah Rukh Khan got his another show Fauji which aired earlier than Dil Dariya. That's why Fauji is known to be the screen debut of Shah Rukh Khan.