Veteran CID Producer and Director BP Singh Passes Away at 77 Following Heart Attack
Veteran television producer, director, and filmmaker BP Singh, widely recognized for creating the popular procedural CID and supernatural thriller Aahat, has passed away. Director Ashoke Pandit shared the announcement on social media on Tuesday, paying tribute to Singh's lasting contributions to Indian television storytelling. In his tribute message, Pandit expressed sorrow over Singh's demise and described him as a gifted filmmaker whose pioneering work helped shape the television medium. Pandit remembered Singh for originating suspense and horror concepts that transformed into household television fixtures across multiple generations of Indian viewers. The filmmaker reflected upon his decades-long personal association with Singh, recalling their collaborative professional efforts through the Indian Film and Television Directors' Association. Pandit added that the late creator would be remembered for elevating small-screen production standards and extended heartfelt condolences to his surviving family.
Born Brijendra Pal Singh in Dehradun, the celebrated producer-director died at the age of 77 following an unexpected cardiac event. Singh created, directed, and produced CID, establishing one of the longest-running and most commercially successful scripted series in Indian broadcasting history. In addition to behind-the-scenes leadership, Singh occasionally stepped in front of cameras to portray the eccentric character DCP Shamsher Singh Chitrole. The celebrated television pioneer passed away on Tuesday morning, triggering outpourings of grief across the entertainment community. Singh helmed the creative architecture of CID beginning in 1998, steering the forensic procedural across two decades of prime-time television. Beyond investigative drama, he pioneered supernatural programming on Indian screens by creating the horror anthology Aahat, which broadcast from 1995 until 2015. Actor Dayanand Shetty, who portrayed senior inspector Daya on the long-running series, honored the late director as a deeply dedicated mentor who shaped his life.
On 13 DEC 2018, the Government of India nominated Brijendra Pal Singh as President of the FTII Society and Chairman of the FTII Governing Council, according to Press Information Bureau.
Originating from Dehradun, Singh transformed into a familiar creative presence across millions of Indian households through the enduring success of his flagship procedural. His extensive television repertoire also featured acclaimed thriller concepts including Khaaki, Abhay, and the fantasy procedural SuperCops Vs Super Villains. The director was born in the northern state of Uttarakhand, cultivating an early creative interest in visual storytelling. Following his early television production work on the Marathi investigative serial Ek Shunya Shunya, Singh shifted his professional base to Mumbai. In October 2004, the production achieved international broadcasting recognition when a special 111-minute episode was filmed in an unbroken continuous take to establish a Guinness World Record. Singh was married to Canadian television producer Renu BP Singh, sharing a supportive artistic and personal partnership across several decades. Long-serving television actors who collaborated with the producer across more than twenty-four years honored him as an extraordinary educator, guide, and thorough professional.
Family, friends and well-wishers can pay their last respects at BP Singh's residence at 9:30 am on 28 October 2026 in Andheri West, Mumbai, with cremation taking place at 11:30 am at Oshiwara Crematorium, according to Indian Television Dot Com.
Singh's crime series CID ran until 2025, completing 1,651 episodes.