Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Kuku Kohli passed away on August 25, 2026, two days after suffering a heart attack — despite doctors placing a coronary stent. His death has raised a question a lot of people don't know the answer to: if a stent reopens the blocked artery, how can someone still die? We spoke to what cardiologists are saying, and broke it down simply below.
What Happened
Bollywood filmmaker Kuku Kohli — known for directing Phool Aur Kaante, the film that launched Ajay Devgn's career — died at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday, two days after being admitted for a heart attack. He was 77. Doctors had placed a coronary stent as part of his treatment, but his condition worsened afterward, and he passed away around 5 pm despite attempts to revive him. He's survived by his wife, actor Aruna Irani, and his two children.
So How Can Someone Still Die After Getting a Stent?
This is the part most people don't understand — and it's exactly what cardiologists have been explaining in the aftermath of Kohli's death.
A stent's job is simple: it physically reopens a blocked artery so blood can flow again. What it can't do is undo damage that's already happened to the heart muscle before the stent went in. According to Dr. Sameer Bhate, a cardiovascular surgeon at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, the procedure can restore blood flow, but it has no power to reverse heart tissue that has already died from lack of oxygen. That gap — a technically successful procedure, but a heart that's already been badly damaged — is often why patients can still decline afterward.
The longer an artery stays blocked before treatment, the more heart muscle is at risk of permanent damage — and that window matters more than most people realize.
The Real Risks After a Heart Attack (Even With a Stent)
Doctors point to a few specific dangers that can occur even after a "successful" procedure:
- Heart failure or cardiogenic shock — when the heart muscle is too weakened to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. This is considered one of the most serious and highest-risk complications following a major heart attack.
- Dangerous heart rhythms — including ventricular fibrillation, where the heart's lower chambers quiver instead of pumping properly. This can trigger sudden cardiac arrest even when the treated artery itself is open and clear.
- Stent thrombosis — a rare complication where a clot forms inside the stent itself, suddenly blocking it again. Modern stents have made this uncommon, but it becomes more likely if a patient stops taking prescribed blood-thinning medication too early without medical guidance.
- Other untreated blockages — a stent only fixes the one blocked spot doctors treated. Coronary artery disease is often present in multiple places, and other plaques elsewhere in the arteries can still become unstable later.
The Bigger Picture: A Stent Isn't a Cure
Cardiologists are emphasizing a point that often gets lost: a stent treats one blockage, not the underlying disease. Dr. Ashish Jai Kishan, a senior cardiologist at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, notes that ongoing risk factors — high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and inactivity — continue putting stress on the arteries even after a successful procedure. That's why the period right after a heart attack and stenting requires close medical monitoring, not just a sense that the danger has passed.
What Recovery Actually Looks Like
After a heart attack, doctors typically evaluate several things before deciding on next steps — how much heart muscle was damaged, how well the heart is still pumping, whether the rhythm is stable, and whether other blockages remain. Long-term recovery generally includes:
- Taking prescribed antiplatelet and heart medication consistently
- Managing cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar
- Quitting smoking
- Following a heart-healthy diet
- Gradually resuming physical activity under medical supervision
- Cardiac rehabilitation, where recommended
As one cardiologist put it plainly: an open artery after a heart attack is a big win, but it's not a guarantee of safety.
FAQs
Can you die after getting a heart stent? Yes — a stent restores blood flow but cannot reverse heart muscle damage that already occurred before the procedure. Complications like heart failure, dangerous heart rhythms, or a new clot can still occur afterward.
How long do you need to take medication after a stent? This varies by patient, but doctors generally prescribe antiplatelet medication for an extended period and strongly advise against stopping it without medical consultation, since doing so raises the risk of a clot forming inside the stent.
Is a heart stent a permanent fix? A stent treats the specific blocked area, but it doesn't cure coronary artery disease itself. Other arteries can still develop blockages over time, which is why ongoing monitoring and lifestyle management matter.
What is cardiogenic shock? It's a condition where the heart becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the body's vital organs — one of the most serious and high-risk complications following a major heart attack.
This article is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you or someone you know has heart disease risk factors, please consult a cardiologist.
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