Renaissance Man: Industry remembers Pritish Nandy

Poet. Journalist. Storyteller. Once Editor & Publishing Director of The Times of India. Member of Parliament. Founder, People for Animals. Founder, Pritish Nandy Communications – Pritish Nandy donned several hats in his lifetime, a testament to his versatility and creative vision. He was also a Padma Shree awardee.

Pritish Nandy passed away yesterday in Mumbai following a cardiac arrest.

Nandy is considered to be a gamechanger in the field of storytelling and communications. As a journalist, he strived to breathe fresh life into magazine journalism of the 80s. He was known to give a much talked about makeover to The Illustrated Weekly in India, making it more contemporary and appealing to a young reader base.

He was also the Editor and Publishing Director of The Times of India in the 80s.

He also hosted ‘The Pritish Nandy Show’ on Doordarshan and reached the heights of popularity with an interview with the Kishore Kumar in 1985, which presented many hitherto unknown insights about the legendary singer-actor-director.

He then went on to set up his own production company – Pritish Nandy Communications, which made several films such as ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, ‘Jhankaar Beats’, ‘Sur’ Pyaar Ke Side Effects’, ‘Chameli’. He also ventured into the OTT space with the hugely popular webseries ‘Four More Shots Please!’, as well as ‘Modern Love Mumbai’.

Remembering Nandy, actor Anupam Kher wrote on X: “Deeply deeply saddened and shocked to know about the demise of one of my dearest and closest friends #PritishNandy! Amazing poet, writer, filmmaker and a brave and unique editor/journalist! He was my support system and a great source of strength in my initial days in Mumbai. We shared lots of things in common. He was also one of the most fearless people I had come across. Always Larger than life. I learnt so many things from him. Off-late we didn’t meet often. But there was a time when we were inseparable! I will never forget when he surprised me by putting me on the cover of Filmfare and more importantly #TheIllustratedWeelky. He was the true definition of यारों का यार! I will miss you and our times together my friend. Rest well.”

Raj Nayak wrote, “There are no favors among friends.” That’s what Pritish Nandy told me when I reached out to him for help a couple of years ago. It wasn’t just a statement, it reflected the essence of who he was: a true friend, straightforward, and dependable. Pritish was more than a fearless journalist; he was a visionary who shaped an era with his bold ideas and unflinching voice. For those of us who eagerly awaited The Illustrated Weekly of India during his time as editor, it wasn’t just a magazine, it was a lifeline to thought-provoking stories, fresh perspectives, and fearless commentary. Week after week, it arrived, straight off the press, and left us inspired. His passing feels personal, like the loss of someone who profoundly impacted the way we think and engage with the world. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family. Pritish’s legacy will live on in his words, his courage, and the countless lives he touched along the way. You will be missed sir!”

Rajdeep Sardesai wrote: “Sad to hear of the passing away of Pritish Nandy. He was a celebrity editor in an era of larger than life editors. His self image was of being much more than just a journalist but a public figure who would talk poetry and cinema as easily as he would about a headline grabbing scoop or interview. Would walk into the Old Lady of Boribunder office with an unmissable swagger. A maverick with a sharp opinion on most issues, he lived by the dictum: like me, dislike me but bloody well don’t ignore me. RIP.”

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra wrote: “What can one say about Pritish Nandy? One could say that he lived well, loved well, fought well, didn’t suffer fools, had a sharp biting sense of humour like no other. After the joke landed, after the laughter came the silence when you understood that he had just given u a-life lesson.”

Vir Sanghvi wrote: “Shocked to hear of the passing of my friend @PritishNandy. Pritish was a renaissance man and master of reinvention. He found success as a corporate PR guy, as a poet, as a brilliant editor, as a masterly interviewer, as a TV pioneer, as an MP & as a filmmaker. A true original.”

Sudheendra Kulkarni wrote, “Sad news. Pritish Nandy is no more. I had the privilege of working with him in the Observer Group of newspapers in Mumbai in the early 1990s. Bold. Irreverent. Innovative. Provocative. He changed the face of magazine journalism in India. A striking example was how he transformed The Illustrated Weekly of India.”

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who had worked with Nandy in ‘Kaante;, wrote: “A true creative genius and a kind soul, you will be missed sir.”

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