Drishyam' director Nishikant Kamat dies in Hyderabad hospital

Hyderabad, Aug 17

Filmmaker Nishikant Kamat, best known for directing the thriller drama “Drishyam”, died on Monday after battling liver cirrhosis for two years, the AIG Hospitals here said. He was 50.

Kamat, who had multiple organ failure, was admitted to hospital on July 31 with complaints of fever and excessive fatigue.

“It was diagnosed that he was suffering from liver cirrhosis for the past two years. Initially, we started antibiotics and supportive medications upon which Mr. Kamat showed an improvement, but his condition soon deteriorated with progressive liver dysfunction and drowsiness,” the hospital said.

The director was immediately shifted to the ICU, where his general condition gradually declined. He had also developed respiratory failure and hypotension on Sunday. His condition deteriorated, eventually leading to multiple organ failure, the hospital added.

Kamat, who also made the action film “Force” and the Irrfan Khan-led “Madaari”, died at  4.24 pm, it said.

"My equation with Nishikant was not just about Drishyam, a film which he directed with Tabu and me. It was an association that I cherished. He was bright; ever-smiling. He has gone too soon. RIP Nishikant," his “Drishyam” star Ajay Devgn said on Twitter.

Kamat made his directorial debut with the Marathi film "Dombivali Fast" in 2005. His Bollywood debut was "Mumbai Meri Jaan", also starring Irrfan.

Kamat played a negative role in John Abraham-Starr "Rocky Handsome" in 2016, which he also directed.

His biggest hit was the Ajay Devgn-Tabu Starr "Drishyam", which was a remake of the Malayalam movie of the same name. — PTI