Veteran journalist, poet, and filmmaker Pritish Nandy passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday, as confirmed by sources close to him. Nandy, aged 73, a recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award, died of a cardiac arrest at his residence in south Mumbai. His final rites were conducted in the evening, according to reports.
In a heartfelt social media tribute, renowned actor and friend Anupam Kher expressed his grief, stating, “I am deeply saddened and shocked by the passing of one of my closest friends, #PritishNandy! He was an extraordinary poet, writer, filmmaker, and a courageous, unique editor/journalist!” Kher further remarked, “In my early days in Mumbai, he was my support system and a significant source of strength. We shared numerous interests. He epitomised fearlessness and was truly larger than life. I owe a lot to him. Although we did not meet often in recent times, there was a period when we were inseparable! I’ll always cherish the surprise of being featured on the cover of Filmfare and, more importantly, The Illustrated Weekly—both edited by Nandy.”
Nandy was not only a former Rajya Sabha member of the Shiv Sena but also an animal rights advocate. His company, Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC), was responsible for producing notable films such as ‘Sur’, ‘Kaante’, ‘Jhankaar Beats’, ‘Chameli’, ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, and ‘Pyaar Ke Side Effects’, in addition to the web series ‘Four More Shots Please!’
In the realm of literature, Nandy authored approximately 40 poetry books in English and translated works from Bengali, Urdu, and Punjabi into English. Fellow Bollywood actors also paid their respects to the esteemed journalist and filmmaker.
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh shared, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Pritish Nandy. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. May his memory be a blessing, and may you find strength during this challenging time. Rest in peace, sir.”
Ranvir Shorey conveyed his shock and sorrow, stating, “I am saddened to hear of @PritishNandy Sir’s passing! He was a maverick who wore many hats with elegance! He helped many talented individuals make their mark in the film industry! Thank you and farewell, Sir! RIP.”
According to PNC’s official website, “Pritish Nandy, a poet, painter, esteemed journalist and editor, television personality, animal activist, and former Member of Parliament, has significantly influenced Indian media on multiple occasions.” He served as Chairman of PNC, which was one of the first media and entertainment companies to be publicly listed in 2000.
Nandy’s accolades include the Padma Shri, the EM Forster Literary Award, the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award, the International Association Award from the Humane Society of the United States, the Friends of Liberation War Honour from Bangladesh, and numerous award nominations for PNC’s films from around the globe, as stated on their website. The company described him as a “magician with words and a true torchbearer for Incredible India.”
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