Mumbai, November 22, 2025 – On what would have been his father's 84th birthday, filmmaker Ayan Mukerji shared a heartfelt tribute to his late father, Deb Mukherjee, on social media. The poignant post featured a carousel of childhood pictures, offering a glimpse into their close relationship.

Deb Mukherjee, a veteran actor in the Indian film industry, passed away on March 14, 2025, at the age of 83, due to age-related ailments. His career spanned several decades, during which he appeared in films such as "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar," "Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool," "Abhinetri," "Do Aankhen," "Baaton Baaton Mein," "Kaminey," and "Gudgudee". Beyond his acting career, Deb Mukherjee was also a respected figure in cultural circles and was actively involved in organizing the North Bombay Durga Puja.

Ayan's emotional tribute included a touching childhood photograph of Deb Mukherjee holding him. Another image showed an old card Ayan had made for his father, bearing the simple message, "To Baba, love Ayan". Ayan captioned the post with, "Happy Birthday Baba !!! ❤️ Love you. Miss you".

The Mukherjee-Samarth family has been an integral part of the Indian film industry since the 1930s. Deb Mukherjee's father, Sashadhar Mukherjee, was a founding partner of Filmistan Studio and produced films like "Dil Deke Dekho," "Love in Simla," "Ek Musafir Ek Hasina," and "Leader". Deb's mother, Satidevi Mukherjee, was the sister of renowned actors Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar, and Kishore Kumar. His brothers include actors Joy Mukherjee and Shomu Mukherjee, the latter being married to actress Tanuja and the father of Kajol and Tanisha.

The news of Deb Mukherjee's passing in March was met with widespread grief in Bollywood. Many prominent figures from the film fraternity, including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji, attended the funeral to pay their respects. Ranbir Kapoor, a close friend of Ayan, was seen acting as a pallbearer during the funeral.

Ayan Mukerji, born on August 15, 1983, has established himself as a successful filmmaker in Hindi cinema. He is known for directing films such as "Wake Up Sid," "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani," and "Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva," all of which starred Ranbir Kapoor. "Wake Up Sid" also won him the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Director. According to reports, Ayan Mukerji is currently focusing on "Brahmastra 2," the sequel to his 2022 fantasy epic, after reportedly stepping away from directing "Dhoom 4".