Veteran actor and producer Dheeraj Kumar died at the age of 79. He was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The renowned personality was in critical condition and was on ventilator support before his death.
Dheeraj Kumar passes away
Known for his decades-long contribution to Indian cinema and television, Dheeraj Kumar’s family and production team had earlier requested prayers from fans, hoping for his recovery. Earlier, in the official statement, they said, “The family requests prayers for his speedy recovery and urges everyone to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
Before he was hospitalised, Dheeraj Kumar made one of his final public appearances at the inauguration of the ISKCON temple in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Speaking at the event, the veteran filmmaker praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for championing Sanatan Dharma.
He said, “I came here with a sense of humility. While they called me the VVIP, I believe the true VVIP is God. Prime Minister Modi spoke about the grandeur and significance of the ISKCON temple, and his words are always inspiring. The love and affection of the people here have deeply touched me. The spiritual importance of phrases like ‘Radhe Radhe Krishna Krishna’ is very significant, and I feel peaceful visiting this temple.”
More about Dheeraj Kumar
Dheeraj Kumar began his journey in showbiz in 1965 after becoming a finalist in a talent hunt, where he competed alongside names like Rajesh Khanna and Subhash Ghai. He went on to appear in over 20 Punjabi films between 1970 and 1984, earning recognition for his work in regional cinema. Dheeraj Kumar worked in Hindi films like Roti kapda aur makan, Sargam, Kranti and many more.
Not just an actor, Kumar was also an entrepreneur. He founded the production house Creative Eye, which produced several popular television shows over the years. He served as the company’s chairman and managing director until his death.