MUMBAI: Noted Hindi filmmaker Shakti Samanta passed away today at 6.30 pm, creating a void in the film industry. He was 83.

Samanta was recovering from a stroke. His funeral would be held at Santacruz crematorium at 10.30 am tomorrow, a family member said.

Samanta churned out several box-office hits like Howrah Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Aradhana and An Evening in Paris.

In all, Samanta directed 43 feature films, including 37 Hindi and 6 Bengali films.

Says yesteryear film actress Asha Parekh, "Today has turned out to be a very bad day for me. I cannot believe that this down-to-earth person is not amongst us anymore. A wonderful human being, Shaktida had a lot of music sense and was instrumental in dishing out memorable music in all his films. My hearty condolence to the entire Samanta family."

Samanta is credited for starting the trend of making double-version films in Hindi and Bengali with Amanush in 1974. He also made the first co-produced film between India and Bangladesh in 1984.

Incidentally, Samanta was the former president of Indian Motion Pictures Association of India (IMPAA).