Veteran journalist, poet, and filmmaker Pritish Nandy, a luminary in Indian arts and media, passed away on Wednesday at his south Mumbai residence following a cardiac arrest. He was 73.
A Padma Shri awardee, Nandy’s final rites were performed the same evening, confirmed sources close to the family. A man of many talents, he was hailed for his contributions across journalism, literature, and cinema.
Actor and long-time friend Anupam Kher paid an emotional tribute, writing, “Deeply deeply saddened and shocked to know about the demise of one of my dearest and closest friends #PritishNandy! Amazing poet, writer, filmmaker and a brave and unique editor/journalist! He was my support system and a great source of strength in my initial days in Mumbai.”
Kher reminisced about their bond, sharing, “He was also one of the most fearless people I had come across. Always Larger than life. I will never forget when he surprised me by putting me on the cover of Filmfare and The Illustrated Weekly.”
Nandy, a former Rajya Sabha member representing the Shiv Sena, was also a staunch animal rights advocate.
His company, Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC), redefined Indian cinema with iconic films such as Sur, Kaante, Jhankaar Beats, Chameli, and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. The studio also ventured into digital media, producing the acclaimed web series Four More Shots Please!
An accomplished author, Nandy penned nearly 40 books of poetry in English and translated works from Bengali, Urdu, and Punjabi, making him a literary force.
Tributes poured in from Bollywood, with actor Neil Nitin Mukesh tweeting, “Deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Mr. Pritish Nandy. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. Rest in peace, sir.”
Actor Ranvir Shorey remarked, “Shocked and saddened to hear of @PritishNandy Sir’s demise! He was a maverick and wore his many hats with elan! He put so many talented people on the map in the movie business!”
According to the PNC website, Nandy was described as a "magician with words and a true torchbearer for Incredible India," with accolades such as the EM Forster Literary Award, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award, and the Friends of Liberation War Honour from Bangladesh.
As Chairman of PNC, Nandy steered it to become one of the first publicly listed media companies in India in 2000. His legacy, spanning journalism, cinema, and activism, has left an indelible imprint on the nation’s cultural fabric.
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