INDIA, Nov 19, (Agencies): Renowned filmmaker Sanjay Gadhvi, best known for directing the blockbuster hits Dhoom (2004) and Dhoom 2 (2006), passed away on Sunday morning at his residence in Mumbai. The 56-year-old director, just days away from his 57th birthday, was reportedly in good health. According to his elder daughter Sanjina, he succumbed to what is presumed to be a heart attack.

Gadhvi marked his directorial debut in 2000 with Tere Liye and later directed Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002). However, it was the stylish action thriller Dhoom (2004) that brought him widespread acclaim. The film, featuring a cat-and-mouse game between motorbike robbers and a cop played by Abhishek Bachchan, became a cultural phenomenon.

The success of Dhoom led to the creation of a film franchise, with Gadhvi directing the superhit sequel Dhoom 2 (2006), starring Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and others. Although the third installment was directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya in 2013, Gadhvi continued to leave his mark on Bollywood with films like Kidnap (2008), Ajab Gazabb Love (2012), and his last directorial, Operation Parindey, released in 2020.

Sanjay Gadhvi is survived by his wife, another daughter, and a legacy of influential films that played a significant role in shaping Indian cinema.