Veteran filmmaker Shakti Samanta died at a hospital here Thursday evening. He was 83.

Samanta died at 6.30 p.m. at the Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle, his close friend of 45 years A. Krishnamurthi, chairman of Tina Films International, told.

"Samanta had suffered a stroke and was in hospital for the past two weeks. He never recovered. He was supposed to be discharged this evening, but suffered a stroke and died, " Krishnamurthi said.

His son, Asim Samanta, also a filmmaker, was by his side.

Samanta will be cremated Friday at the Santa Cruz crematorium here at 11 a.m.

He has to his credit hits like "Howrah Bridge" (1958), "Kashmir Ki Kali" (1964), "An Evening in Paris" (1967), "Aradhana" (1969), "Kati Patang" (1970), and "Amar Prem" (1971) to name a few.