New Delhi: The Indian film and TV industry is mourning the death of actor Mukul Dev, who was confirmed to have passed away at the age of 54. His close friend and actress Deepshikha Nagpal confirmed his demise on Friday night, sharing a heartfelt Instagram Story with a throwback photo and the words, “RIP.”
In an exclusive interview with News9Live, actress Mugdha Godse also confirmed the shocking news and revealed, “It happened last night. He had been in the ICU for a week due to health complications. Unfortunately, he couldn’t pull through.” According to sources, friends and colleagues had gathered at his residence on Saturday after hearing of his sudden passing.
Over the years, Mukul Dev has made his mark with versatile performances in films such as Son of Sardaar, R… Rajkumar, and Jai Ho. He was last seen on screen in the Hindi film Anth The End. Though known for his intense roles, the actor’s career had spanned genres and mediums, from mainstream Bollywood cinema to television hosting.
Born into a Punjabi family in New Delhi, Mukul was raised with a deep respect for cultural heritage. His father, Hari Dev, served as an assistant commissioner of police and had a fascination with Afghan culture, fluent in both Pashto and Persian. This early cultural immersion would later shape Mukul’s worldview and artistic sensibilities.
Check out Deepshikha Nagpal’s post!
Dipshikkha Nagpal’s Instagram Story
Interestingly, Mukul’s first brush with the stage came in his school days when he impersonated Michael Jackson during a Doordarshan-organised dance show. He was just in Class 8 when he earned his first pay cheque.
A trained pilot from the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Mukul’s life took many turns before settling into the world of showbiz. His acting journey began with the 1996 television serial Mumkin, where he portrayed Vijay Pandey. He also appeared on Doordarshan’s Ek se badh kar ek, a Bollywood countdown show that gained popularity in the late ’90s.
Yamla Pagla Deewaana director Samir Karnik also offered his condolences on Mukul’s demise and told News9Live, “What can I say, I am in shock, it’s unbelievable. Have no words to express. Mukul was the most joyful human being, full of life on screen and off screen. I spent some memorable moments with him. I will miss him a lot. God bless his soul.”
Producer Kumar Mangat said, “He was a wonderful person and a delight to work with. He had completed the shoot.”
Many also remember him as the host of the first season of Fear Factor India, where his natural charisma and screen presence made a lasting impression. His film debut came with Leverin which he played ACP Rohit Malhotra alongside debutante and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen.
Mukul Dev is survived by his brother, actor Rahul Dev. His last film was Ajay Devgn’s upcoming release, Son of Sardaar 2, and he had completed his shoot.
