The Bollywood on Sunday condoled the death of veteran filmamaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee and described him as a socially-conscious artist who took filmmaking to "great heights" with a cinematic diction and view of life of his own.

"His films carried the Hrishida stamp and he was there in every frame", actor-turned film maker Amol Palekar said.

"I had the honour to work in his films and I can say that the experience was memorable", said Palekar.

Rajesh Khanna, who acted in Mukherjee's films 'Anand and 'Bawarchi' said "Mukherjee will be with us forever. Every morning, I will remember him and the thoughts he gave me. Hrishida will continue to live in us for ever".

"Of the two oft-trodden paths of arts and commerce in filmdom, he adopted a middle path, that of humanity", he said.

Yash Chopra, one of the most successful Bollywood directors, said Mukherjee made "films straight from his heart" and had his own cinematic language to make "simple and clean movies".

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said Mukherjee was to recognise and encourage talent. "For me his death was a great personal loss and the loss of a great teacher".

Actor-producer Anupam Kher said "after watching Hrishida's films, one wondered that such clean and wholesome films were still being made in India. An era in Indian films has ended".

Playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, who has lent her voice in a number of films by Mukherjee, said his films represented the Indian culture.