Veteran Actor-Producer Dheeraj Kumar Passes Away

MUMBAI (IANS)- Producer-director-actor Dheeraj Kumar, known for his contributions to television and films, passed away on July 15 at the age of 79.

He had been admitted to the hospital in Mumbai, where he was diagnosed with acute pneumonia and was on ventilator support in the ICU. His son, Ashutosh Kumar, was by his side at the time of his passing. The actor suffered a cardiac arrest.

Dheeraj Kumar began his journey in the entertainment industry in 1965. He was notably one of the finalists in a talent show alongside Subhash Ghai and Rajesh Khanna, with Rajesh Khanna ultimately winning the competition.

He acted in 21 Punjabi films between 1970 and 1984. He later established his own production company, Creative Eye, where he served as chairman and managing director. Among his notable acting roles, the song ‘Ka Karoon Sajani, Aaye Na Balam’ from the film ‘Swami’ was picturised on him. He also featured in other Hindi films such as ‘Heera Panna’ and ‘Raaton Ka Raja’.

Recently, Dheeraj Kumar had attended the inaugural ceremony of the ISKCON temple in the Kharghar area of Navi Mumbai, where he praised Prime Minister Modi’s efforts in supporting the spread of Sanatan Dharma.

He had expressed his sentiments at the event, saying, “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.” He added, “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.”