Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Filmmaker Kuku Kohli Dies; Aruna Irani’s Marriage Revisited
Kuku Kohli was a filmmaker known for movies such as Phool Aur Kaante.
He died at age 77 after a heart attack.
His friend Ashoke Pandit said Kohli became uncomfortable and was taken to a hospital in Mumbai.
Kohli met actor Aruna Irani while they were working on a film.
They argued at first, but later became friends and fell in love.
They married in 1990, although Kohli already had a wife named Rita and two daughters.
Irani said she did not want children because she worried they might feel hurt or confused about their family situation.
Reports contain different accounts about when Irani learned that Kohli was already married.
Filmmaker Kuku Kohli died at 77 after a massive heart attack, according to friend Ashoke Pandit.
Kohli was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai after feeling uncomfortable and died around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Aruna Irani said she met Kohli while working on a film, initially clashed with him, and later fell in love.
Accounts differ on whether Irani knew Kohli was married to Rita Kohli when they met.
Irani and Kohli married in 1990, had no children, and collaborated on films including Phool Aur Kaante and Suhaag.
- Who
- Filmmaker Kuku Kohli, actor Aruna Irani, Kohli’s first wife Rita Kohli, their two daughters, and friend Ashoke Pandit.
- What
- Kuku Kohli died after a reported massive heart attack, while accounts revisited his relationship and marriage with Aruna Irani.
- When
- Kohli died on Tuesday at around 4:30 p.m.; Irani and Kohli married in 1990, and Rita Kohli died in 2022.
- Where
- Kohli was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.
- Why
- Ashoke Pandit attributed Kohli’s death to a massive heart attack; Irani said she kept the relationship private partly because she did not want to hurt anyone.
Irani’s Earlier Account
Irani’s Later Account
When Irani learned about Kohli’s first marriage
Irani’s Earlier Account
In an account reported by The Times of India, Irani said Kohli did not tell her he was married when they met, and she learned about his wife and daughters after falling in love.
Irani’s Later Account
In interviews reported by The Indian Express and other outlets, Irani said she already knew because Rita Kohli and the children came to the film sets.
Why the relationship remained private
Irani’s Earlier Account
Irani said she avoided discussing the relationship while Rita Kohli was alive and began speaking about it after Rita’s death in 2022.
Irani’s Later Account
Irani also said she kept quiet because Rita was uncomfortable and because she did not want to hurt anyone or break up a family.
Why the couple did not have children
Irani’s Earlier Account
Irani said she feared a child would suffer because Kohli was a married man and might not always be available as a father.
Irani’s Later Account
In another account, she said her own childhood experience as the daughter of a second wife and advice about a possible generation gap influenced the decision.
- Age at death
- 77
- Reported cause of death
- Massive heart attack, according to Ashoke Pandit
- Reported time of death
- Around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday
- Hospital
- Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai
- Marriage
- Aruna Irani and Kuku Kohli married in 1990
- First family
- Kohli had two daughters, Pooja and Karishma, with Rita Kohli
- Children with Irani
- The couple chose not to have children
- Professional collaboration
- Irani appeared in Kohli films including Phool Aur Kaante, Suhaag, Haqeeqat, Anari No.1, and Zulmi
