RIP! Veteran Bollywood actor, filmmaker Neeraj Vora passes away at 54!

Actor, director and writer Neeraj Vora breathed his last on Thursday after being in coma for over a year. He was 54. Vora's younger brother Uttank Vora told IANS that he died at 4 a.m. at a Andheri hospital. Vora was 54. "He will be taken to Firoz Nadiadwala's house Barkat from where he will be taken to the Santa Cruz Electric Crematorium at 3 p.m.," Uttank Vora said. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit mourned the demise of his 'dear friend' on social media and said Vora was on ventilator from the last few days and expired due to multi organ failure. "Sad to know that one the finest Actor,Writer,Director,Producer & a dear friend Neeraj Vora passed away early morning at #Criticare Hospital. Juhu. The Creamation will be held at 3 pm at SantaCruz West #Mumbai. Opp Police station.#RIP," he tweeted.

Sad to know that one the finest Actor,Writer,Director,Producer & a dear friend Neeraj Vora passed away early morning at #Criticare Hospital. Juhu. The Creamation will be held at 3 pm at SantaCruz West #Mumbai. Opp Police station.#RIP pic.twitter.com/Sw0eXBsBvy

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) December 14, 2017

"Writer,Director,Actor,Producer Neeraj Vora was on ventilator from last 4 days & expired due to multi organ failure. The Creamation will be held today at 3 pm today at the Santa Cruz west. Creamation Ground," he added.

Writer,Director,Actor,Producer Neeraj Vora was on ventilator from last 4 days & expired due to multi organ failure. The Creamation will be held today at 3 pm today at the Santa Cruz west. Creamation Ground. pic.twitter.com/foTbX0o9xP — Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) December 14, 2017

Born in a Gujarati family, Vora came to be known in the film industry for the way he tackled humour through his acting, writing and directorial projects. Neeraj Vora(left) in a still from 'Bol Bachchan'movie He was also closely associated with theatre. In fact, "Golmaal: Fun Unlimited", which started the hit comedy franchise, was based on the Gujarati play "Aflatoon" by Mihir Bhuta and Neeraj. They had adapted from it from Harsh Shivsharan's original Marathi play "Ghar-Ghar" Vora acted in films like 'Company', 'Pukar', 'Rangeela', 'Satya', 'Baadshah' and 'Mann'. He penned down 'Hera Pheri' and directed 'Phir Hera Pheri' and 'Chachi 420'.Early tributes and condolences to Vora from the film world included names like Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Rahul Dholakia.

One of the main reasons behind my foray into comedy, saddened to hear about the demise of #NeerajVora a multi-talented man, writer, director, actor...a mini industry by himself, learnt so much from him. RIP

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 14, 2017

"Neeraj Vora - The writer and director of 'Phir Hera Pheri' and many hit films is no more... Aum Shanti," Paresh tweeted.

Neeraj Vora - The writer n director of Phir Hera Pheri n many hit films is no more ...Aum Shanti . — Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) December 14, 2017

Actor Tusshara Kapoor said: "Shocked and saddened to hear of the demise of Neeraj Voraji. Had cast me for 'Golmaal' and directed me in the unreleased 'Run Bhola Run'. RIP sir."

Shocked & saddened to hear of the demise of #Neerajvora ji! Had cast me for Golmaal 1 & directed me in the unreleased Run Bhola Run! RIP sir

— Tusshar (@TusshKapoor) December 14, 2017

Dholakia described him as "one of India's finest humorist screenwriter", while actor Parvin Dabas said he was "one of the most brilliant comic minds in Hindi cinema".

#neerajvora one of India's finest humorist screenwriter is no more. he was a friend, relative and also the writer of my first KHDBB- R.I.P. — rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) December 14, 2017

"He was a friend, relative and also the writer of my first 'Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar'. R.I.P," Dholaia said. Actor Viveck Vaswani remembered Neeraj, with whom he was friends since they did "Raju" together.

RIP Neeraj Vora! Friends since we did Raju together!

— Viv (@ViveckVaswani) December 14, 2017

Writer Milap Zaveri said: "You will surely make the heavens laugh."

RIP Neeraj Vora sir. You will surely make the Heavens laugh. 🙏 — Milap (@zmilap) December 14, 2017

With inputs from agencies.