‘Phir Hera Pheri’ director Neeraj Vora passes away

Daud writer, Phir Hera Pheri director and popular comic actor Neeraj Vora passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 54 at Criticare Hospital in Andheri, Mumbai.
He had slipped into coma after suffering from a near-fatal combination of a heart attack and a brain stroke on 19 October last year. Producer Firoz Nadiadwala took him to his home and converted a room into a make-shift Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
According to sources, he will be taken to Mr Firoz Nadiadwala's house BARKAT, from where he will be taken to the Santacruz Electric Crematorium at 3 pm today.
Neeraj Vora, who was set to direct the third installment of the hit Hera Pheri franchise, had begun the process of making the film, when he suffered the heart attack. His initial work as a writer includes superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s TV show Circus. Neeraj made his acting debut with Ketan Mehta’s Holi (1984), which also starred Aamir Khan.

He then went on to star in films like Rangeela, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Akele Hum Akele Tum, Virasat, Mann, Satya, Mast, Pukar and Company. His last film as an actor was Anil Kapoor starrer Welcome Back, which released in 2015.
Neeraj Vora was also known for writing the first part of the Hera Pheri series (2000) and Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal (2006). As a director, his most notable work was Phir Hera Pheri, the second installment of the Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty franchise.

He was to direct Hera Pheri 3, but uncertainty because of his health, it was reported in March that Ahmed Khan will direct the film. The film was supposed to star Akshay, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. But shetty has told Mid-Day that only Neeraj will direct the film. “I believe he is doing better now. Once he is fit, we will roll out the film,” the actor had said.