Film Critic / Fillm critic Rashid Irani passed away at 74

The eminent film critic Rashid Irani, who is much talked about in the cinema circles of the city, was found dead at his residence in Mumbai on Monday. He was 74 years old. Irani, who had multiple health issues and lived alone, probably breathed his last on July 30 at his home in the south Mumbai neighborhood of Dhobitalao, according to his close friend Rafiq Ellas."This is terrible news. Most likely, he passed away on Friday morning while taking a shower because he (found) was in the bathroom. Since Friday, he has not been seen at the Press Club or his usual breakfast place. We all thought he had gone out of town, so we waited for him. We were hoping that he would come back on Sunday night. But today we got worried. We called the police and broke the door," Ellias said.

According to Ellias, Rashid Irani was not keeping well and had also contracted a coronavirus last year. "He had severe high blood pressure and diabetes. He had a fall at a film festival in Goa about two years ago. He had a haemorrhage, it was a neurological condition. It was probably something like that too, but he had nobody. He lived alone in Mumbai for his entire adult life," he said. Mumbai Press Club's official social media account also tweeted about Irani's demise, saying, "Rashid Irani, 74, one of the country's foremost film critics, probably passed away at home on July 30. He hasn't been seen for two-three days." "Friends, when the club officials and police reached his house for a search, his body was found there," the Press Club said in a statement.

The club further said in the statement, "Rashid Irani, who contributed several articles to national dailies such as The Times of India, Hindustan Times and the website Scroll.in, was one of the pillars of the Mumbai Press Club Film Society. The well-known critics were core members of the club, who never missed a day in the media center to write their reviews and watch movies." "He will be greatly missed by all the members and staff. Details about his funeral will be announced soon," the tweet said.

Cinema personalities like Karan Johar and Sudhir Mishra also paid tribute to the late critic. Karan Johar said Irani's insights into cinema will always be treasured. "Rest in peace, Rashid. I remember all our conversations and interactions very well," the filmmaker tweeted. Recalling his early days in 1980s Mumbai, Mishra said that Irani was "the kind of Bombayite I fell in love with". "Gentle, firm, kept to himself in a discussion but always listened. His city changed before him. He was like the de Grandfather in Fellini's Amarcord: lost near his own home!" he said, referring to the character played by Giuseppe Inigro in the 1973 Italian comedy drama Amarcorde, directed by iconic filmmaker Federico Fellini. Last year, Rashid Irani spoke to Mid-Day about feeling lonely as the coronavirus-induced lockdown cut off his contact with people.