Ajay Sharma, the Hindi film editor who worked on Ludo (2020) and Jagga Jasoos (2017), died of Covid-19 related complications at a hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday.
He was in his late 30s.
Sharma was last working on the upcoming Hindi sports drama Rashmi Rocket, starring Taapsee Pannu in the lead role.
About 10-15 days ago, Sharma had visited New Delhi, where he tested positive for the virus and had been facing difficulty in finding a bed in a hospital. On April 25, Hindi filmmaker Ashoke Pandit wrote on Twitter requesting an oxygen bed for Sharma. As per the filmmaker’s tweet, Sharma’s oxygen levels had dropped to 83. However, with the help Rashmi Rocket team, Sharma was able to secure a bed.
Sharma worked as an editor in Indoo Ki Jawani (2020), Pyaar Ka Punchanama 2 (2015), 22 Yards and High Jack in 2018. He has also edited Amazon Prime’s romantic drama web series Bandish Bandits.
Sharma has worked as an assistant editor in over 10 Hindi films like Barfi (2012), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Life in A Metro (2007), The Dirty Picture (2011), Agneepath (2012), and Kai Po Che (2013).
He also directed a short film Jolly 1995 (2020) that is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
Mourning the loss of Sharma, editor Sreekar Prasad told Silverscreen India: “It is a very unfortunate death. He was an upcoming editor who was doing very good work. He had been working on good projects and I have seen two of his films, Ludo and Karwaan. They were very well edited films. Ludo had a non-linear edit and he had done a good job.”
He said that editors should try working from their homes to prevent being infected with the virus. “As a community, we are trying to advise editors to work from home and not go out. Even during the first lockdown, we have been trying to tell all the editors to work from home, because it is more of a work that can be done from where we live and it will be safer for us. I hope the filmmakers take sufficient care during these times,” Prasad said.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, editor KL Praveen said, “I didn’t know him personally but I have been reading about him and he seems to be a hard-working person. His recent films are quite extraordinary work and he seems quite young. It is very tragic that this has to happen. I have watched Ludo and it is very well edited.”
Condolences poured in as the film fraternity mourned over the demise of Sharma.
Devasted is an understatement 💔
We lost Ajay Sharma today.
Not just an incredibly fine editor but an absolute gem of a human being . Nothing makes sense .— Shriya Pilgaonkar (@ShriyaP) May 5, 2021
Life is so unfair. Rest in Peace, Ajay Sharma, a great talent gone too soon. My heartfelt condolences to his family & friends during this difficult time. 🕯️🌹 https://t.co/NoSLctK7AR
— T.S.Suresh (@editorsuresh) May 5, 2021
Life is so unfair. Rest in Peace, Ajay Sharma, a great talent gone too soon. My heartfelt condolences to his family & friends during this difficult time. 🕯️🌹 https://t.co/NoSLctK7AR
— T.S.Suresh (@editorsuresh) May 5, 2021
The late editor is survived by his wife and a four-year-old child.
