Nishikant Kamat on ventilator support, says Riteish Deshmukh; John Abraham calls filmmaker a ‘fighter’

Riteish Deshmukh has said that Drishyam director Nishikant Kamat is on ventilator support. John Abraham requested everyone to pray for the director as he called him a ‘fighter’.

Filmmaker Nishikant Kamat is on ventilator support at a Hyderabad hospital, actor Riteish Deshmukh tweeted on Monday. AIG Hospital, where the director has been admitted, said his condition continues to be critical.

Director Nishikamat Kamat is on ventilator support, says Riteish Deshmukh.

It was inaccurately reported that Kamat has passed away on Monday morning. Deshmukh, who worked with Kamat in Marathi film Lai Bhaari, set the record straight, “Nishikant kamat is on ventilator support. He is still alive & fighting. Let’s pray for him.”

Actor John Abraham, who was directed by Kamat in Force and Rocky Handsome, tweeted, “Nishikant is alive. In touch with his doctor. He is a fighter. Please pray for him.”

"He is not dead, he is on ventilator. But his condition is very critical," his industry friend and director Milap Zaveri told PTI. Earlier, Kamat's close friend, Marathi actor Jaywant Wadkar had said that the director had passed away.

Thereafter, many of his associates, including actors Renuka Shahane and R Madhavan had started posting their condolences.

In a statement on August 12, the hospital had said that Kamat was admitted for jaundice and abdominal distention, and was later diagnosed with chronic liver disease. The hospital had described his condition "critical but stable".

Nishikant made his directorial debut with Marathi film, Dombivali Fast, in 2005. The film became one of the biggest hits of the year in Marathi cinema and also won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi in 2006.

The filmmaker hit national spotlight when he directed the Hindi remake of Malayalam hit Drishyam, starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu in 2015. He also directed Force, Rocky Handsome and Madaari. The director also appeared as an actor in Rocky Handsome, Julie 2, Bhavesh Joshi and Saatchya Aat Gharat (Marathi).