Oct 27, 2026 2:06pm IST
‘CID’ and ‘Aahat’ Creator B. P. Singh Dies After Massive Heart Attack
Brijendra Pal Singh, the veteran television producer and director best known for creating the long-running crime series “CID” and the horror show “Aahat”, has died after suffering a massive heart attack. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit confirmed the news, remembering Singh as a master of thrillers whose work left a lasting mark on Indian television.
“B.P. Singh’s demise is a great loss to the industry. He suffered a massive heart attack early this morning, was rushed to the hospital in Santacruz, and passed away there. B.P. Singh was a master of thrillers and created some of the finest suspense on television. An FTII direction graduate and a brilliant writer-producer, he set landmarks with iconic shows like CID and Aahat. Even his re-runs commanded a loyal audience, serving as a huge inspiration to generations of creators,” Pandit said.
Reflecting on their personal and professional association, Pandit recalled Singh’s distinctive approach to the thriller genre and the guidance he received from him during his tenure at the Film and Television Institute of India, where Singh served as president.
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“Nobody can match his style of making thrillers. He was very close and dear to me, and we met often. During his tenure as FTII President, I had the opportunity to work under him. Beyond that, he was a great mentor—I learned immense technical nuance from him through our constant exchange of ideas. His passing is a huge loss,” Pandit added.
Singh, an alumnus of FTII who specialised in cinematography, became one of the defining figures in Indian television crime drama through “CID”. The series, which followed a team of investigators solving criminal cases, became a fixture of Indian television after its debut in 1998 and earned a loyal audience over its long run. Singh was also associated with the show as a director and producer, and occasionally appeared on screen as DCP Shamsher Singh Chitrole.
His other prominent work included “Aahat”, the suspense and horror series that became another enduring television title. Singh also produced crime dramas and other television projects, including “Hum Ne Li Hai... Shapath”, while his career extended beyond production to institution building and film education.
In December 2018, Singh was appointed president of the FTII Society and chairman of its governing council, succeeding Anupam Kher. His association with the institute also included earlier roles in its academic and governing bodies.
Through “CID” and “Aahat”, Singh helped shape the language of Indian television thrillers, building shows whose characters, suspense and enduring rerun audiences became part of the medium’s popular culture.
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