Roshan Taneja, who trained scores of Hindi film actors including the likes of Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Jaya Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha and many more passed away due to prolonged illness. He was 87.
The cremation was held at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday at the electric crematorium in Santacruz West.
Bollywood celebrities such as Gufi Paintal, Raza Murad, Anil Kapoor, Ratna Pathak, Govinda, Anil George, Kanwaljit Singh and many more noted and eminent personalities attended the cremation of the "acting guru."
Roshan Taneja, known to many as the "pioneer of method acting" in India, is held in high regard in the Hindi film industry.
Ranbir Kapoor who was present at Panasonic Cricket 'Dil Se' event in Mumbai also shared his thoughts and paid a tribute to the legend, who trained his father Rishi Kapoor.
"He is such a great legend of our film industry. He taught my father, and when I was shooting for 'Saawariya', I took some classes from Roshan Taneja with Sonam, before the shooting. I wish his soul rests in peace. He has been a great talent," said Ranbir.
Roshan Taneja had been training talent since the 1960s, first at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune and later at his private school in Mumbai, the Roshan Taneja School of Acting.
RANI MUKERJI HAS FOND MEMORIES OF ROSHAN TANEJA
Actress Rani Mukerji is one of Roshan Taneja's star students. She remembers her late acting guru with fondness, saying he played an important part during her beginning in the film industry.
"Oh my God, that's really sad news. I'm in Kota and feeling miserable that I could not be there and bid him farewell. May his soul rest in peace," Rani reacted when she got to know of Taneja's demise.
Taneja, who trained several actors across generations in the Hindi film industry, died here on Friday night at the age of 87, following prolonged illness. He was cremated on Saturday.
For Rani, her teacher will be in her heart and prayers forever.
She told IANS: "I started my film career journey under his guidance. I was extremely lucky as he agreed to guide me and take me under his wings even though he was very busy. I admire and respect him a lot. He is someone I remember every time I think of my beginnings, his blessings meant a lot.
"His one line to my father resonates with me even today and I have lived with that everyday of my life, 'I don't have a pill which I will give your daughter and she will learn acting'. I realised that acting is an internal process and can't be learnt."
