Veteran filmmaker Yashwant Bhalkar passes away

Marathi cinema

's veteran filmmaker

Yashwant Bhalkar

breathed his last in the early hours of Wednesday. He was 61-years-old. The filmmaker reportedly suffered a severe heart attack and was admitted to a private hospital in

Kolhapur

.

Yashwant Laxman Bhalkar was born on April 17, 1957, in Kolhapur. He had worked as a child artist in 'Songdhari Bhalji Pendharkar's' Tambadi Mati' and Shahir Kondke's' Songadi '. In 1981, he started working as an assistant director of 'Pomegranate'.

Marathi film director Yashwant Bhalkar, who has directed about 13 Marathi films till now including 'Lek

Ladki

', 'High Command' 'Raj Mata Jijau' and 'Natha Pure Ataa', has always been passionate about films. His demise has left the entire Marathi industry in shock.