Actor Mukul Dev Passes Away at 54 After Brief Illness
Actor Mukul Dev, widely recognized for his impactful supporting roles in films such as Son of Sardaar, Yamla Pagla Deewana, and Jai Ho, has passed away at the age of 54. The news was confirmed on Saturday by his brother, actor Rahul Dev.
“My brother Mukul Dev passed away peacefully last night in New Delhi after a period of ill health,” Rahul said in a statement.
According to reports, Dev had been unwell for over a week and was receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital. Close friend and actor Vindu Dara Singh revealed that Dev had been emotionally withdrawn following the recent passing of their mother.
“He had been sick for eight to ten days and wasn’t looking after himself. He was deeply affected by his mother’s death,” Singh said. “We were hoping he’d join us for the Son of Sardaar 2 photoshoot, but he stopped answering our calls.”
A former model, Mukul Dev made his acting debut in the 1996 thriller Dastak, alongside Sushmita Sen and Sharad Kapoor. Over the decades, he built a strong career in Indian cinema, appearing in character roles across Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, and Telugu films.
Some of his notable performances include roles in Kohram, R... Rajkumar, War Chhod Na Yaar, Jai Ho, and Yamla Pagla Deewana. His performance in Son of Sardaar earned him particular acclaim.
In addition to acting, Dev co-wrote the 2017 biopic Omerta, directed by Hansal Mehta and starring Rajkummar Rao. The film received widespread critical praise.
Remembering Dev, director Hansal Mehta wrote on Instagram: “Not done, Mukul mere dost… So many more stories, so much more laughter. See you on the other side, my dear friend.”
Actor Manoj Bajpayee also mourned the loss, saying, “It’s hard to put into words what I’m feeling. Mukul was like a brother—warm, passionate, and irreplaceable. Gone far too soon. Prayers for his family and everyone grieving. Miss you, meri jaan… until we meet again. Om Shanti.”
Arshad Warsi offered his tribute as well: “I was really fond of him. He was a friend, a colleague, and a wonderful human being with a beautiful soul. May he rest in peace.”
On the small screen, Mukul Dev was known for roles in popular television serials such as Gharwali Uparwali and Kumkum.