Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 16: Renowned actor, director, and television producer Dheeraj Kumar passed away at the age of 79 in Mumbai on Tuesday, following a reported battle with pneumonia. He was undergoing treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.
His last rites will be conducted today at Waghji Bhai Wadi crematorium. Earlier in the day, his family and close friends gathered at his residence for the antim darshan, paying their final respects.
Dheeraj Kumar was a respected name in both Hindi and Punjabi cinema, as well as in Indian television, where he played a pivotal role in shaping mythological and spiritual programming.
Tributes Pour In:
Veteran actor Raza Murad, remembering Kumar, said:
“He earned fame as well as respect. He lived a good life and was a very simple and good person. He achieved his position by working honestly…”
Television producer Asit Kumarr Modi called it a “great loss”:
“The television industry has suffered a great loss with the demise of Dheeraj Kumar. I am very shocked because I had met him just a week ago…”
Career Highlights:
- Film: Acted in notable Hindi films such as Swami, Heera Panna, Raaton Ka Raja, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, among others.
- Punjabi Cinema: Featured in over 21 Punjabi films between 1970 and 1984.
- Television: Founder of Creative Eye production house, which gained fame for mythological series like Om Namah Shivay and other cultural shows.
With a career spanning nearly six decades, Dheeraj Kumar is remembered as a pioneer of Indian television and a cultural storyteller, whose contributions left a lasting imprint on Indian entertainment.