Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan fondly remember working with Rituparno Ghosh

The acclaimed director of Bengali cinema, who passed away yesterday, had worked with all the four Bachchans – Aishwarya, Abhishek, Jaya and Amitabh – in different films

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan were a little late in the day to react to the demise of Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh yesterday. Sr Bachchan was keeping unwell with a back spasm and came online on social networking sites only at night, while Abhi-Ash were in London for Gucci’s Chime for Change concert.
Sr B said on Facebook, “We grieve in shock today at the very sudden passing away of that remarkable director from Bengal, a brilliant mind, an artist of great eminence, Rituparno Ghosh ..I worked with him in “The Last Lear”, a film he made in English.”
Sharing a similar status on Twitter, Big B added, “Ritu Da, as we affectionately called him was just 49 .. he is the only director that has worked with all members of our family!! Ritu Da, a sensitive artistic mind, a gentle human, considerate and caring.. gone !” He further added, “Just yesterday Sujoy, of ‘Kahani’, and me were talking, firming up our project. Spoke at length of Ritu Da and this morning… Did ‘The Last Lear’ in English with him .. cannot forget the standing ovation it got for 15-20 mins at the Toronto Film Festival ..!”
Aishwarya sent a condolence message too,s aying, “I am SHOCKED and deeply saddened by this news. I just can’t believe it! May his soul rest in peace.”
Abhishek tweeted, “Absolutely shocked with the news of the passing of Ritu da. A dear friend and a great director and a wonderful, wonderful human. RIP. Had the honour of working with him in Antarmahal. Such a fine director. Will really miss his exuberance and zest for the movies and life.” He added, “Just realised that Ritu da was the only director that my family have all worked with individually. Pa (Amitabh) – ‘The Last Lear’, Ma (Jaya) – ‘Sunglass’… Aishwarya – ‘Chokher Bali’, and ‘Raincoat’ and me – ‘Antarmahal’.”
The 49-year-old Kolkata-based filmmaker was suffering from pancreatitis. He passed away in his sleep around 7.30am following a cardiac arrest. A huge number of fans, colleagues and dignitaries including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gathered in Kolkata for Ghosh’s funeral. Take a look at the pictures