Actor Mukul Dev passes away at 54

MUMBAI: Actor Mukul Dev, known for his work across Hindi, Punjabi, South Indian cinema, and television, has passed away at the age of 54. The news has shocked the Indian entertainment industry, with colleagues and fans expressing deep sorrow over his untimely demise.

Born on September 17, 1970, in New Delhi, Mukul Dev was a well-known face across multiple film industries. He began his acting career in 1996 with the TV series ‘Mumkin’ and made his film debut the same year in the thriller ‘Dastak’, starring alongside Sushmita Sen. His career spanned over two decades, during which he appeared in numerous films across Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam cinema.

Mukul’s diverse filmography includes iconic roles in popular movies such as ‘Son of Sardaar’, ‘R…Rajkumar’, and ‘Jai Ho’.

Following the news of his death, tributes began pouring in from across the entertainment industry. Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who worked with Mukul in the 1996 film ‘Dastak’, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

“It’s impossible to put into words what I’m feeling. Mukul was a brother in spirit, an artist whose warmth and passion were unmatched. Gone too soon, too young. Praying for strength and healing for his family and everyone grieving this loss. Miss you meri jaan…until we meet again. Om Shanti,” Bajpayee wrote.

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A post shared by Manoj Bajpayee (@bajpayee.manoj)

Actor Vindu Dara Singh also expressed his grief over the actor’s demise in a post on X.

Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev ! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong where you will spread joy and happiness to the viewers and make them fall down laughing ! pic.twitter.com/oyj4j7kqGU

— Vindu Dara Singh (@RealVinduSingh) May 24, 2025

“Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev ! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong where you will spread joy and happiness to the viewers and make them fall down laughing!,” he wrote.

Vindu Dara Singh said, “The ‘Son of Sardaar’ team is in shock. Our movie is releasing soon, and Mukul won’t be there to witness its success. He gave such a brilliant performance in the film, and it’s the most hilarious movie ever. It’s heartbreaking that he won’t be there to witness its success.”

Vindu further recalled that Mukul had performed exceptionally well in the movie, making everyone laugh with his natural comic timing. “Mukul had some of the funniest lines in Son of Sardaar 2. When people watch it in the theatre, they will fall down laughing,” Vindu said.

The actor also shared that Mukul had been struggling with personal challenges following the death of his mother, which had affected his mental well-being. “He was very close to his mother, and when she passed away, he became depressed. He didn’t have the same person to guide him after her passing,” Vindu said.

He also mentioned that Mukul’s health had suffered, which led to significant weight gain. However, during the filming of ‘Son of Sardaar 2’, the team, including Ajay Devgn, encouraged Mukul to walk and exercise, helping him shed some weight and improve his health.

Despite his physical transformation, Vindu mentioned that Mukul remained anxious about his health and was particularly fearful of Covid-19. “He was very scared of Covid. He kept telling me, ‘Vindu, I think I have a heart issue,’ and I would laugh and say, ‘It’s all in the mind.’ But he was genuinely concerned”, Vindu shared.

In his final film, ‘Son of Sardaar 2’, Mukul was set to deliver yet another memorable performance, though tragically, he will not be present to see the film’s release. Mukul Dev’s funeral will take place in Delhi today at 5 pm. Family, close friends, and colleagues will gather to pay their final respects to the actor who touched many lives with his talent, humour, and warmth. (ANI)