Mr India cinematographer Peter Pereira dies at 93, Abhishek Bachchan extends condolences

Veteran cinematographer and special effects provider Peter Pereira has died. Actor Abhishek Bachchan shared the news on Twitter. Peter was 93 and blind for over 20 years. He is best known for films such as Mr India (1987), Sheshnaag (190), Ajooba (1991), Border (1997), and Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973).

Sharing the news of Peter’s death, Abhishek Bachchan wrote in a tweet, “Our industry lost a legend today. #PeterPereira was a pioneer in Cinematography in our films. One of the greatest!” Recalling the memories of Peter, he also added, “I remember him fondly from the sets of my father’s films that I visited as a child. Kind, loving, dignified and brilliant. Rest in Peace, sir.”

Peter Pereira had worked on special effects for many fantasy films in Bollywood. While his most successful one was Mr India, he seems to be long forgotten. According to a report of Scroll, he lived by himself in his apartment in Juhu, Mumbai.

Peter was last seen in filmmaker Hemant Chaturvedi’s documentary, Chhayaankan. The film profiled 14 cinematographers who worked in Hindi films between the 1950s and the 2000s. It included Peter Pereira, Govind Nihalani, Jehangir Chowdhury, Pravin Bhatt, Kamalakar Rao, Ishwar Bidri, SM Anwar, Baba Azmi, AK Bir, Nadeem Khan, Barun Mukherjee, Dilip Dutta, RM Rao and Sunil Sharma.

Sharing the news of Peter’s death, Hemant wrote on Instagram, “The legend is no more. A career of over 60 years. Peter Pereira passed away today. Cinematographer & Special Effects genius. He went blind 20+ years ago and was conveniently forgotten by his fraternity, in the typically callous and selfish way in which our film industry functions. Other than his presence in my documentary film, there exists only one other interview of the man who spawned several generations of excellence. He is the star of my documentary and his affect on my life cannot be explained. It’s a sad reflection of the Bombay film industry and it’s abject selfishness and arrogance that is continuously appalling and grotesque. I wish Peter Uncle eternity and immortality. There will never be another one like him. He would have been 94 this year.”