Veteran filmmaker Prakash Mehra dead

Mumbai, May 17 (IANS) Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Prakash Mehra died here Sunday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 69.

Mehra died of pneumonia and multiple organ failure at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, said family sources.

Mehra ventured into filmmaking with 1968 Shashi Kapoor starrrer 'Haseena Maan Jayegi' followed by the 1971 hit 'Mela', which had Feroz Khan and Sanjay Khan in lead roles. However, it was Amitabh Bachchan starrer blockbuster hit 'Zanjeer' (1973) that not only catapulted him into the big league but also gave the Hindi film industry its 'angry young man'.

He later teamed up with Amitabh in hits like 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar', 'Sharabi', 'Laawaris' and 'Namak Halal' before their last film together 'Jaadugar' that turned out to be a dud.

Recently he was visited by Amitabh while he was in the intensive care unit in the hospital.

Mehra's health is said to have worsened after his wife's death. He is survived by two sons - Sumeet and Amit.