Lyricist Dev Kohli, known for 'Maine Pyar Kiya' and 'Baazigar,' dies at 80

Mumbai, August 26: Renowned Hindi film lyricist Dev Kohli, aged 80, breathed his last in Mumbai on Saturday. Kohli's legacy is marked by his contributions to the lyrics of more than 100 films, encompassing notable works such as 'Maine Pyaar Kiya,' 'Baazigar,' 'Judwaa 2,' 'Musafir,' 'Shoot Out At Lokhandwala,' and 'Taxi Num 911.'

Over the course of his career, he partnered with acclaimed music directors like Anu Malik, Raam Laxman, Anand Raaj Anand, Anand Milind, and several others.

Dev Kohli's spokesperson Pritam Sharma verified that the lyricist peacefully passed away at his residence during the early hours of the morning. Having been unwell for a few months, he was earlier under medical care at Mumbai's Kokilaben Hospital before being discharged and brought back home around 10 days ago.

Kohli's last rites will be conducted in Jogeshwari West around 6 pm on Saturday.

His close associates, including Anand Raaj Anand, Anu Malik, and Uttam Singh, alongside prominent figures from Bollywood, will be attending the funeral.

Kohli relocated to Dehradun following Partition

Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan into a Sikh family, Kohli relocated to Dehradun following Partition.

Kohli's close friend composer, lyricist and playback singer Anand Raaj Anand told ANI,  "In 1995, when I first arrived in Mumbai and got my first project, I wanted to open a bank account but bank personnel said they could not do so unless i produced somebody who would vouch for me. At that moment, a sardar ji intervened and helped me. It was Dev Kohli ji. He told me You're into music, and I write music. Therefore, don't worry and he signed for me."

"After two days I called him on his landline as I was excited and things were proceeding in a in a laid-back manner. Kohli ji invited me to sing as we got started playing. I informed him that I had also composed songs and he told me that he would write for me when I made it big. A few years later, his predictions came true and we ended up performing numerous tunes together. I only ever collaborated with one or two other lyricists apart from him."

"I first met him a week ago, and I visited his house to touch his feet in order to receive his blessing. He requested that I sing a song about Radha Krishna, which bestowed blessings upon me, and urged me to start over and succeed in my career," Anand Raaj Anand said.

Arriving in Mumbai in 1964 Kohli began looking for film work. With the release of the movie ‘Gunda’ in 1969, he debuted in the Bollywood industry. His first big break came with the song ‘Geet Gaata Hoon Main’ from the 1971 movie 'Laal Patthar.'

He wrote lyrics for several hit songs like ‘Aate Jaate Hanste Gaate,’ ‘Kabootar Ja Ja Ja,’ ‘Aaja Shaam Hone Aayee,’ ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ and ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’

He and Anu Malik formed a spectacular partnership in the 1990s, working together on songs like ‘Dekho Dekho Jaanam Hum’ in Ishq and ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen’ in 'Baazigar.'