‘Agni Sakshi’ Director Partho Ghosh Passes Away at 76 – Bollywood Mourns a Veteran Filmmaker

Renowned filmmaker Partho Ghosh—celebrated for his gripping ’90s thrillers 100 Days and Agni Sakshi—passed away on Monday, 9 June, after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 76.

Tributes Pour In

Bengali star Rituparna Sengupta mourned the director on social media, writing:

“Heartbroken beyond words. We have lost an exceptional talent, a visionary director, and a kind soul. Partho da, you will always be remembered for the magic you created on screen. Rest in peace.”

A Prolific Career in Hindi and Bengali Cinema

Ghosh debuted in Bollywood with 100 Days (1991), a murder mystery centred on extrasensory perception starring Madhuri Dixit. He achieved even greater acclaim with Agni Sakshi (1996), an adaptation of Sleeping with the Enemy that tackled domestic violence and featured Nana Patekar’s National Award-winning performance.

Over the decade, he delivered a string of memorable titles, including:

• Dalaal (1993)
• Ghulam-e-Mustafa (1997)
• Jeevan Yudh (1997) – which earned him a National Award nomination for Best Director
• Yugpurush (1998)
• Khote Sikkey (1999)

Later Work

Although Ghosh directed fewer films in the 2000s—with a significant hiatus between 2010 and 2018—he returned to helm Pyar Mein Thoda Twist in 2022, featuring music by Bappi Lahiri.

Partho Ghosh leaves behind a legacy of genre-defining thrillers and socially resonant cinema that continues to influence filmmakers and captivate audiences.