Filmmaker Chandra Barot, who is known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's 1978 cult classic movie Don, died at a hospital in Mumbai's Bandra region on Sunday.

He was 86.

Deepa Barot, the director's wife, confirmed his death and told The Times of India: "He had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years."

He was undergoing treatment at Guru Nanak Hospital.

He was previously admitted to Jaslok Hospital.

Farhan Akhtar pays tribute

Indian filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, who had remade the cult classic, expressed sadness over the death of the director.

He wrote on Instagram: "Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family."

Barot had earned national attention with his box office-smashing megastar Amitabh Bachchan's Don in 1978.

The movie reached cult status and inspired to be remade later with actor Shah Rukh Khan playing the lead role that was originally played by Bachchan.

After Don, he directed the 1990 Bengali film Aashrita.

Several of his later projects remained unreleased.