Ayan Mukerji requests privacy at prayer meet for late father Deb Mukerjee: 'Yeh humare liye bohot personal event hai, it is not a Durga Puja event'

Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji recently organised a prayer meet in Mumbai to honour his late father, veteran actor Deb Mukerjee, who passed away on March 14 at the age of 83 after struggling with age-related health issues.

The event took place at Filmalaya Studio in Andheri, Mumbai, where Ayan, visibly overwhelmed with grief, requested the paparazzi for some privacy during this difficult time. He kindly asked them not to intrude on the personal event, explaining that it was not a public occasion like the Durga Puja celebrations that often attract media attention.

In a heartfelt appeal to the photographers, Ayan said, "Andar bohot commercial hoga, it's like a prayer meet. Thoda personal hai isliye aapko yahan rakha hai, agar aapko lag raha hai ki achhe shots nahi mil rahe, toh I am sorry, humare liye aaj aisa hi better hai." (It will be very commercial inside, it's a prayer meet. It’s a bit personal, so we've kept you here. If you're feeling you’re not getting good shots, I’m sorry, this is better for us today.)

He continued by explaining the reasons for the request: "Humare paas yahan par jagah nahi hai, humne andar shlokas rakhe hain. Agar photographers aayenge, toh awaaz hogi, aur wahaan jagah bhi nahi hai. Please, aaj ke liye rehne do. I understand par aap bhi mere baat sunno." (We don’t have space here, we've placed prayers inside. If photographers come, there will be noise, and there's no space. Please, allow this for today. I understand, but please listen to me.)

Ayan further emphasised, "Yeh humare liye bohot personal event hai, it is not a Durga Puja event. It is very different for us today, so please understand. I hope aapko kuch miljaaye, if you don't get any visuals today, I am sorry." (This is a very personal event for us, it's not a Durga Puja. It’s different for us today, so please understand. I hope you get something, but if not, I’m sorry.)