His wife Anita Kanwar and nephew Sunny Singh were near him when he breathed his last.
Assistant director and a close family friend Shammi Chhabra said: “He was suffering from kidney problem for quite sometime. His last rites will be performed in Mumbai on Sunday. The body will be flown into the city around 10 p.m. on Saturday. The cremation will be carried out at oshiwara cremation center on Sunday”.
The 50 year old Kanwar started his career by assisting Shekhar Kapoor and Raj Kumar Santoshi. He turned director with Deewana in 1992. He has also produced films like ‘Ithihaas’, ‘Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke’ and ‘Humko Deewana Kar Gaye’.
Bollywood fraternity expressed their tribute on twitter:
Shahrukh Khan who started his career with kanwar’s 1992 Deewana tweeted: “My friend Raj Kanwarji passed away. The impermanence of life makes one feel so helpless. May his soul rest in peace”
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar wrote: “Sad to hear about director Raj Kanwar’s demise. RIP”.
Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra who made their debut with 2003 film Andaaz opposite Akshay Kumar also paid tribute.
Priyanka tweeted: “Saddens me so much, my first director Raj Kanwar passed away. You believed in me when even I didn’t. Andaaz taught me everything I know”.
Lara Dutta tweeted: “RIP Raj Ji. Friend, director and guide. Bid goodbye with a very heavy heart! We lost a kind, gentle, positive man”.
Akshay Kumar tweeted: “Deeply saddened to know, Raj Kanwar, one of our finest directors passed away. He’d directed two of my personal favorite films of my career, Andaaz and Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye. My thoughts & prayers with his family. RIP”.