Ajay Sharma was an Indian film editor and director who is known for editing Bollywood films like Jagga Jasoos (2017), Karwan (2018), Ludo (2020), and Rashmi Rocket (2021). He died on 5 May 2021 due to COVID-19 complications.
Wiki/Biography
Ajay Sharma was born on 1 November [1] (he was in his late 30s at the time of death) [2] in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. He grew up in Nilgiri Park Colony in Rajnandgaon. After completing his college studies, he went to Mumbai, where he became a successful film editor.
Ajay Sharma doing the editing work for a film
Family
He belonged to a middle-class family in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
Wife & Children
He was married to Prachi Sharma, a video creator.
Ajay Sharma with his wife, Prachi
Their marriage took place on 22 January 2019. [3]
Ajay Sharma’s wedding photo
He is survived by a four-year-old son. [4]
Career
Film
Assistant Editor
Ajay Sharma started his career as an assistant editor, and he worked on the films Wo Lamhe (2006), Life in a… Metro (2007), and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010).
Associate Editor
As an associate editor, Ajay Sharma worked on many popular Bollywood films like I Hate Luv Storys (2010), The Dirty Picture (2011), Agneepath (2012), Barfi! (2012), Kai Po Che! (2013), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013), and Hawaa Hawaai (2014).
Editor
His first film as an editor was Jashnn: The Music Within (2009). Later, he edited many popular films including Tum Mile (2009), Crook (2010), Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015), Jagga Jasoos (2017), High Jack (2018), Karwaan (2018), 22 Yards (2018), Ludo (2020), Indoo Ki Jawani (2020), and Rashmi Rocket (2021).
TV & Web Series
Ajay Sharma edited all the seven episodes of the Amazon Prime web series Rasbhari starring Swara Bhaskar; it was premiered on 25 June 2020 on Amazon Prime. In the same year, he edited the Amazon Prime series Bandish Bandits. In an interview, while talking about Bandish Bandits, actor-director Anand Tiwari, who helmed “Bandish Bandits,” said,
We spent months together in a small dark room making a 10 part series, shot after shot, splice after splice. I thought that was the beginning of our journey, not the end.”
Director
Ajay Sharma made his directorial debut with the short film “Jolly 1995,” which was premiered on 19 October 2020 on Disney+ Hotstar.
Awards
On 10 August 2018, he was awarded the ‘Best Editor Award’ at the International Film Festival held in New York.
A news article on Ajay Sharma getting the Best Editor Award at the International Film Festival held in New York
Death
On 5 May 2021, Ajay Sharma breathed his last at Rajeev Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi. He had been undergoing treatment for a few days after being diagnosed with the COVID-19. [5] Many film personalities took to social media to share condolence messages on Ajay Sharma’s demise. Actor Shriya Pilgaonkar said she was “devastated” by Sharma’s demise, she wrote,
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.”
Actor-director Anand Tiwari, who worked with Ajay Sharma on Bandish Bandits, took to Instagram where he penned a heartfelt note, he wrote,
Today, I have lost one of the most artistic partners I have ever had. There was so much more we had to do together, so much more I had to learn from him.”
RSVP Movies also took to its official Twitter handle to share its condolence message on Ajay Sharma’s untimely demise.
Thank you for giving us the best visual & emotional experience of storytelling through your work. #AjaySharma, your presence amongst us will be deeply missed. Rest in peace. #Karwaan #RashmiRocket pic.twitter.com/8XdExesdi5
— RSVP Movies (@RSVPMovies) May 5, 2021
Facts/Trivia
- Apart from films and TV series, he also edited the popular documentary Sachin: A Billion Dreams (2017), based on the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
- His last work as an editor was Rashmi Rocket (2021), a sports drama starring Taapsee Pannu.
- At the time of his death, he was working as an editor on two upcoming Punjabi films, Tu Hovein Main Hovan (starring Jimmy Sheirgill), and P. R. (starring Harbhajan Mann).
- Ironically, on 31 August 2020, he posted a meme on his Instagram about the COVID-19.
Ajay Sharma’s Instagram post on COVID 19
