Ravi Tandon was a fine director and perfect gentleman, recall Anwar Ali and Rakesh Roshan

Raveena Tandon's father, director/producer Ravi Tandon passed away today, after reportedly succumbing to respiratory failure. He had worked on popular films like 'Khel Khel Mein', 'Khud-daar', 'Anhonee', 'Nazrana', 'Majboor' and 'Zindagi'. Remembering the filmmaker, ETimes spoke to Ravi Tandon’s close friends and associates actor/producer Anwar Ali and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan.

Comedian, actor and filmmaker Mehmood's brother Anwar Ali revealed that he was still in disbelief. He said, “When I heard the news this morning I was in complete denial. I had taken for granted that our frequent conversations and messages would continue unhindered. Raveena's tweet about Ravi’s passing away was shocking. Ravi Tandon was a fine man, a perfect gentleman. He was approachable, affectionate and hospitable.”

Anwar Ali, who had produced Amitabh Bachchan’s Khud-daar for Ravi Tandon, described him as a sensitive director. He added, “He was a producer's director and a good listener. Although he would often attribute his life's superhit Khud-daar to me, it was actually Ravi bhai who pulled off a superhit so effortlessly.” Ali praised Ravi Tandon’s management and organizational skills, too. He said, “Balancing dates of key actors was far more easy, with him incharge. In one instance, he completed work equivalent to 18 shifts in the short span of just three days. He made sure we stayed connected through the months and years. He sent generous amounts of bhabhi's Sindhi kadhi, overflowing with love. The recent pandemic kept us in isolation in our respective homes but we were always connected, always in conversation.” Emotional and eyes welled up Ali said, “Only love and more love for you Ravi bhai. You have always been an integral part of the journey of my life.”

Actor/filmmaker Rakesh Roshan echoed similar sentiments as he recalled his long friendship with Ravi Tandon. He said, “I worked with him in two films. Our association started with Khel Khel Mein, where Rishi, Ravi and I became best of friends. Later, we did Jhoota Kahin Ka with him, too.”

Roshan further stated, “Ravi was fun working with because I never felt that we are working with a director. He was very casual and friendly on the sets, it was more like we were on a picnic. He was very casual in his approach but a very fine director. He had a great sense of story and screenplay.”