Latest news with #MaheshJirawalaProductions
NDTV
13 hours ago
- NDTV
Gujarati Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, Missing Since Air India Plane Crash, Confirmed Dead After DNA Match
New Delhi: The death of Gujarati filmmaker Mahesh Kalavadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala, has been officially confirmed following the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. The confirmation came after DNA test results matched his family's samples. Earlier, Mahesh Jirawala's wife had shared that his mobile phone's last known location was about 700 meters from the crash site. Based on this, she feared he was among the victims and had submitted DNA samples for verification. "According to the last location of his phone, the filmmaker was present at a distance of 700 meters from the accident site," she said. She had assumed that he had died in the crash. A burnt Activa scooter belonging to Jirawala was recovered from the site, raising suspicion that he may have been struck by the crashing aircraft. His phone was later found at the site in a switched-off state, which further supported the possibility that he was among the casualties. DNA test results eventually confirmed his death. Initially, the family refused to accept the body, holding out hope that he might have survived. "They were not ready to believe his death," sources said. However, once police presented key evidence, including the chassis number of the Activa scooter and the DNA, the family broke down and accepted the truth. Mahesh Jirawala was a resident of Naroda in Ahmedabad and was known for directing Gujarati music videos and projects related to AIDS awareness. He was the CEO of Mahesh Jirawala Productions and had directed a Gujarati film in 2019. He is survived by his wife, Hetal, and their two children, a daughter and a son. According to official data, a total of 231 DNA identifications have been completed in the Ahmedabad crash so far, and 210 bodies have been handed over to the families. The victims include 155 Indians, 36 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian citizen, and nine local residents. The Air India flight, which was flying from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into the B J Medical Hostel in Shahibaug on June 12. Over 279 people were killed in the incident.
News18
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala's Death Confirmed In Ahmedabad Plane Crash; Here's What Happened
The confirmation of Mahesh Jirawala's death has come as a shock to the Gujarati film community and his fans. Gujarati filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia, widely known as Mahesh Jirawala, has been officially confirmed dead in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash. He had been reported missing near Shahibaug on the day of the incident, sparking concerns about his safety. However, if recent reports are to be believed, a burnt Activa scooter registered to Jirawala was discovered at the crash site. This raised suspicions of his involvement in the crash. His mobile phone was also last tracked to the same location before it went off, further pointing to the likelihood that he was among the victims. These findings ultimately helped confirm his tragic demise in the accident. DNA test results have also confirmed his identity. Initially, Jirawala's family was initially unwilling to accept the body, since they could not believe that the filmmaker had passed away in a tragic way. However, after police presented strong evidence, including his Activa's number and the DNA report, the family agreed to claim the body. The confirmation of Mahesh Jirawala's death has come as a shock to the Gujarati film community and his fans. Mahesh, who was also the CEO of the production house, Mahesh Jirawala Productions, was known for directing advertorials and music videos. He has a number of music videos to his credit, primarily in the Gujarati language. The filmmaker had also directed the 2019 film, Cocktail Premi Pag Of Revenge, starring Asha Panchal and Vruti Thakkar in lead roles. For the unversed, on June 12, Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANB), crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The incident resulted in the death of 241 out of the 242 people on board, leaving only one survivor. Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X and wrote, 'UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital." First Published:
India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Who is Mahesh Jirawala? Popular filmmaker went missing after Ahmedabad Plane crash, his phone was found in…, wife thinks he was…
Film director Mahesh Kalawadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala, has been missing since the tragic Air India plane crash that occurred on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad. His family has provided DNA samples after his disappearance. According to reports, his mobile location was traced to just 700 meters from the accident site. The Air India Flight Tragedy The Air India flight, carrying 242 passengers, lost radar contact at an altitude of 625 feet and crashed into the campus of a medical college in Meghaninagar just moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 PM on June 12. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 241 out of the 242 people on board, as well as 29 individuals on the ground. As per Mahesh's wife, Hetal Kalawadia, she said, 'My husband called me at 1:14 PM to say his meeting was over and that he was on his way home. However, when he did not return, I called his phone, but it was switched off. After informing the police, the last signal from his mobile phone showed he was just 700 meters away from the crash site.' For those unaware, Mahesh Jirawala had been directing music albums and was headed to meet someone in the Law Garden area that afternoon, according to his wife Hetal. Authorities are currently collecting DNA samples to help identify the victims of this tragic incident. As of Sunday, officials confirmed the identification of 47 victims through DNA matching. More about Mahesh Jirawala Mahesh Jirawala was more than just a filmmaker, he was founder and CEO of Mahesh Jirawala Productions. He earned a reputation for creating visually rich and emotionally engaging music videos and promotional films. One of his notable projects was the 2019 Gujarati film Cocktail Premi Pag Of Revenge, a dramatic narrative featuring actors Asha Panchal and Vruti Thakkar. The film received praise for its layered performances and for Mahesh's direction, which was characterized by sensitivity and flair. At personal front, Mahesh was a devoted husband and father. He lived with his wife, Hetal, and their two children, daughter and son, in Naroda, small village of Ahmedabad.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala missing post Ahmedabad plane crash, family in distress; everything to know
The tragic crash of an Air India flight in Ahmedabad on June 12 has left the nation in mourning. As officials confirm that 270 lives were lost in the accident, the process of identifying victims continues with 99 confirmed through DNA testing and 64 bodies handed over to grieving families. But feared to be amongst the 29 residents who lost their lives on the ground in Meghaninagar is Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia, popularly known as Mahesh Jirawala. His name has surfaced in connection with the crash after he went missing the same day. According to his wife, Hetal, his last known location was just 700 metres from the crash site. A post shared by Mahesh Jirawala (@mahesh_jirawala) A resident of Naroda, Mahesh Jirawala is best known for his work in Gujarati music videos and advertorials. He is the founder and CEO of Mahesh Jirawala Productions, a creative outfit that produces visual content primarily in regional languages. In 2019, he directed the film Cocktail Premi Pag Of Revenge, which starred Asha Panchal and Vruti Thakkar. Mahesh was also active on Instagram, frequently posting about upcoming projects and sharing behind-the-scenes moments from his shoots. He lived with his wife Hetal and their two children — a daughter and a son — in Naroda, a suburb of Ahmedabad. A post shared by Hetal Mahesh Jirawala (@ According to his wife, Mahesh left home on June 12 to meet someone near Law Garden. He called her at 1:14 pm to let her know he was on his way back. But when she tried to reach him at 1:40 pm — just minutes after the Air India plane took off from the Ahmedabad airport — his phone was switched off. 'His scooter and mobile phone are missing. All this is unusual since he would never use that route (as per the last location) to come home,' Hetal told PTI. The family has since submitted DNA samples to authorities in hopes of confirming whether Mahesh was among those killed when the aircraft crashed in Meghaninagar. As the investigation continues and more names are added to the heartbreaking list of victims, loved ones like Hetal are left waiting for answers.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Who Is Mahesh Jirawala? Filmmaker Missing After Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Last Updated: Gujarati filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala is feared dead in the Ahmedabad plane crash. Missing since June 12, his family awaits DNA confirmation. Here's what we know. In what continues to be one of the most devastating aviation disasters in recent memory, Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia—widely known in the Gujarati film industry as Mahesh Jirawala—is feared to be among the many lives lost in the tragic Air India plane crash that occurred on June 12. The London-bound aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, leaving behind a trail of destruction in the densely populated Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad. Mahesh, a respected director and producer known for his work in regional advertorials and music videos, has been missing since the day of the incident. According to his wife, Hetal Kalawadia, his last known location was traced to within 700 meters of the crash site. That proximity, combined with the sudden disappearance of both his mobile phone and scooter, has raised grave concerns. The crash has so far claimed 290 lives, including 271 passengers aboard the aircraft and 29 residents on the ground in Meghaninagar—many of whom were caught unawares as parts of the aircraft fell onto homes, streets, and small businesses. Rescue and recovery operations are still underway, and identification of victims remains ongoing. Mahesh's family has submitted DNA samples to assist authorities in confirming whether he is among those who perished. Mahesh Jirawala was more than a filmmaker. He was a storyteller, a cultural contributor, and a beloved figure in the Gujarati creative community. As the founder and CEO of Mahesh Jirawala Productions, he built a reputation for visually rich, emotionally resonant music videos and promotional films. His work was rooted in the local idiom, yet bore a professional polish that earned him recognition beyond state lines. Among his more notable projects was the 2019 Gujarati film Cocktail Premi Pag Of Revenge, a dramatic narrative featuring actors Asha Panchal and Vruti Thakkar. The film was lauded for its layered performances and Mahesh's direction, which was marked by sensitivity and flair. He was also an active presence on social media, where he often posted behind-the-scenes glimpses of his shoots, interactions with artists, and previews of upcoming projects. At home, Mahesh was a devoted husband and father. He lived with his wife Hetal and their two children—a daughter and a son—in Naroda, a suburb of Ahmedabad. Friends describe him as soft-spoken, grounded, and deeply committed to both his art and his family. Speaking to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Hetal recounted the last conversation she had with her husband. 'On June 12, Mahesh had gone to Law Garden to meet someone. He called me at 1:14 pm to say he was on his way back home," she said. 'I called him again at 1:40 pm, but his phone was switched off. That was just a minute after the plane took off from Ahmedabad airport." What followed was an agonizing silence. Hours turned into days. The news of the crash began to circulate widely, and Hetal's fears deepened. 'His scooter and mobile phone are still missing," she said. 'And the last location we were able to trace was not a route he would ever take to return home. None of it makes sense." The possibility that Mahesh may have been an unintentional bystander caught in the chaos of a plane crash has sent ripples through the Gujarati film fraternity. Colleagues, collaborators, and fans have taken to social media to express their disbelief and anguish, many sharing his music videos and film clips in tribute. Officials involved in the investigation have stated that the intensity of the crash has made victim identification a prolonged and painstaking process. For families like Mahesh's, each passing day without news brings both hope and dread. Until a definitive confirmation is made, they continue to wait—straining against despair, holding on to fragments of possibility. As Ahmedabad mourns its dead and the nation grapples with the aftermath, stories like Mahesh's humanize the scale of the tragedy. Behind every number in the death toll is a life—a voice silenced, a dream interrupted, a family changed forever. First Published: June 16, 2025, 14:14 IST
