Bollywood actor, writer & filmmaker Neeraj Vora, who was in a coma for almost a year, passed away on Thursday morning at a Mumbai hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Akshay Kumar mourned his demise on Twitter:
The 54-year-old multi-faceted artist, best known for writing Shah Rukh Khan’s popular TV show Circus and Ram Gopal Verma’s Rangeela, went into a coma after he suffered a brain stroke in October 2016. He was then taken care of by Producer Firoz Nadiadwala who converted a room at his home into a make-shift Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to support his ailing friend and colleague.
Unfortunately, Vora’s health didn’t support him at a time when he began the process of making the third installment of the hit Hera Pheri franchise in 2016. With no connections in Bollywood, this man from Bhuj made a name for himself in a ruthless industry that is not very favourable to ‘outsiders’.
A recognisable face onscreen, he made us laugh in several films with his perfect comic timing in memorable character roles. Not just his acting, Vora, the man of many talents is also credited with writing popular movies like Phir Hera Pheri and Golmaal. He was the dialogue writer in Aamir Khan’s Rangeela.
He also acted in films like Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Virasat, Mann, Satya, Mast, Pukar, Bol Bachchan and Company.
He made his acting debut with Ketan Mehta’s Holi in 1984, which also starred Aamir Khan. And his last film as an actor was Anil Kapoor starrer Welcome Back (2015).
His directorial debut was with Khiladi 420 in 2000 and later, he went on to direct the second installment of the Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty franchise, Phir Hera Pheri, in 2006. The creative personality, the man who spread many a smile, has left a deep void in the industry.
Rest In Peace, Neeraj.