Sawan Kumar Tak hospitalised in critical condition due to lung ailments, confirms nephew

Filmmaker Sawan Kumar Tak has been hospitalised and is in a critical condition. He has been suffering from lung-related ailments for long. Sawaan is said to have launched stars such as Sanjeev Kumar and Mehmood in Bollywood. According to a report, he is admitted in the intensive care unit of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.

Sawan Kumar started his career as a producer with the 1967 film Naunihal that featured Sanjeev Kumar in the lead role and received the Presidential mention at the National Film Awards that year. Later, he made his directorial debut with Gomti Ke Kinare in 1972, which turned out to be Meena Kumari’s last film.

Sawan Kumar’s nephew Navin Kumar Tak told ETimes, “He was admitted to the hospital a few days ago. He’s had a history of lung-related ailments, but this time he’s serious and his heart is not in a good condition. We are asking the fans and followers for their prayers so that uncle can pull through this difficult time.”

Sawan also wrote lyrics for many popular films including Hrithik Roshan’s debut Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Souten, Souten Ki Beti, Bewaffa and many more. Some of the films Sawan has been associated with, include Sanam Bewafa, Sajan Bina Suhagan and Souten.

Talking about his first film, Sawan had told The Hindu in a 2012 interview, “I came to Mumbai from Jaipur in 1965 to become an actor. After trying my luck at two-three studios when I didn’t get a break I decided to start from the top. I requested my sister to lend 25,000 rupees to produce a film. I had an idea about an orphan whose principal tells him that he has relative in the form of Pandit Nehru. My sisters refused but my brother-in-law agreed. So I produced Naunihal. The film got the Presidential mention at the National Awards but it proved to be a commercial failure. With it I gave the break to Sanjeev Kumar. I saw him at a theatre production where he was filling in for an established actor. Floored by his performance, I promised to give him a role in my first film. And when the time came, I offered him Naunihal and changed his name from Haribhai Jariwala to Sanjeev Kumar.”

He added, “Enthused by the critical acclaim, I went to sign Meena Kumari for Gomti Ke Kinare. After I narrated the emotional story I asked her whom would she like to be signed as director. She said the man who has told me such a touching story. I was baffled. I didn’t have the confidence to direct a film and that too with Meena Kumari. But when she insisted I decided to take charge.”