Sahdev Ghei, the man who built Yash Raj’s distribution arm, dies at 74 

MUMBAI: Sahdev Ghei, erstwhile vice president, distribution, at Yash Raj Film Distributors, died on 11th July at 3.45pm in Bombay, reportedly of cardiac arrest. He will be cremated on 12th July at Versova Hindu Cemetery, Yaari Road, Versova, Andheri West, with his final journey beginning at 11am from his residence at Gambs Tower, Four Bungalows, Andheri West.

Ghei’s association with Yash Raj Films began in 1993 with Darr, and from there he built and led the distribution arm virtually from scratch. Over more than two decades, he became one of the most trusted names in Indian film distribution, steering YRF’s business with a mix of vision and grit that colleagues describe as irreplaceable.

He stepped down from his full-time role in March 2017 but stayed on as a consultant with the company until the pandemic intervened, after which he led a quieter, retired life.

News of his death, just a day old, has already drawn tributes from across the industry. Colleagues remember him not just for his business acumen but for his temperament: humble, encouraging, and, as one former colleague put it, always ready with a smile. Many who worked under him credit their own careers in distribution to the opportunities and guidance he provided.

Ghei leaves behind a distribution business that still bears his imprint, and an industry only just beginning to reckon with the loss of the quiet architect behind one of Bollywood’s biggest studios. Om Shanti.