Acting guru Roshan Taneja dies at age 87

Roshan Taneja, who has trained many Hindi filmmakers, including Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Jaya Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Shatrughan Sinha, has died, a family member said.

"My father died Friday night at 9:30 pm in his sleep at home after a long illness," said the son of the acting guru, Rohit Taneja.

He is survived by his wife Mithika and his sons Rohit and Rahul.

The cremation will take place at 16:30. Saturday at the electric crematorium of Santacruz West.

Roshan Taneja, known by many as the "pioneer of acting method" in India, is held in high esteem in the Hindi film industry. He had been teaching talent since the 1960s, first at the Indian Institute of Film and Television (FTII) in Pune, and then at his private school in Mumbai, the Roshan Taneja School of Acting.

Shabana offered his condolences to the Taneja family and tweeted: "Last night, we learned sadly that Roshan Taneja had pbaded away, he was my guru at FTII and the only person I touched. I had the privilege of being trained acting through it. "

Last night, we learned with sadness the death of @ RoshanTaneja.He was my guru at the FTII and the only person to whom … https://t.co/Ic8KZB9EJEITRE19459004¹7; Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) 1557535704000

The actor Rakesh Bedi wrote: "A very sad day for me, my guru Roshan Taneja expired yesterday, I owe him my career, rest in peace."

A very sad day for me. My guru Shri Roshan Taneja expired yesterday. I owe him my career. RIP https://t.co/XpdCLpR367

— rakesh bedi (1945)

National Award-winning filmmaker Atanu Ghosh tweeted, "He ended an illustrious period of more than five decades – the greatest method teacher we have ever had." A guru revered for not less than four generations of brilliant actors, rest in peace sir. "

#RoshanTaneja died last night. With it ends an illustrious era spanning more than five decades: the great … https://t.co/4i7XtHnCPd

— Atanu Ghosh (@atanugsh) 1557537710000