Mukul Dev, the versatile actor known for his memorable roles in films like Yamla Pagla Deewana, Son of Sardaar, R. Rajkumar, and Jai Ho!, passed away at the age of 54. His journey through Indian cinema is a compelling story of ambition, resilience, and a heartfelt return to his cultural roots. Before stepping into the limelight, Mukul trained as a commercial pilot at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics, where he ranked fourth in his batch. But his true passion lay elsewhere. An early exposure to entertainment came when, as a Class 8 student, he won his first pay cheque impersonating Michael Jackson during a dance show organized by Doordarshan. Mukul made his acting debut on television with the serial Mumkin in 1996, portraying Vijay Pandey. He also featured in Doordarshan’s comedy Bollywood countdown show Ek Se Badh Kar Ek. His talent caught the eye of Amitabh Bachchan’s company ABCL, landing him a role in the shelved movie Naam Kya Hai. That same year, he debuted on the big screen with Dastak, playing ACP Rohit Malhotra alongside newly-crowned Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. This film marked the beginning of a promising career. He later appeared in Qila, notable as Dilip Kumar’s final film. Reflecting on his career, Mukul said to Hindustan Times, “Having also started my career in the 90s, an era of formula films, it was filmmakers like Ram Gopal Varma who paved the way for the kind of films we now consider a norm rather than an exception.” However, despite his efforts, Mukul struggled to secure leading roles in mainstream Bollywood. A significant setback came during the making of Kya Kehna in 2000, when he was replaced by Saif Ali Khan. Producer Ramesh Taurani reportedly fired him for arriving late on set. The early 2000s saw Mukul transition to television, with roles in popular serials like Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Pyar Zindagi Hai. He credited television for revitalizing his career, telling Hindustan Times, “TV revived my career when it was in a lurch.” Expanding his horizons, Mukul began acting in Punjabi, Telugu, and Bengali films, achieving considerable success in Punjabi cinema. Speaking about the challenges of migrating to the Punjabi film industry, he said, “I am from this (Punjabi) soil. My father’s village is near Jalandhar and I spent four to five years in Patiala training as a pilot, so the language has never been an issue for me.” His connection to Punjab brought authenticity to his roles, and he remained active in Punjabi films until recently. A lesser-known aspect of Mukul’s career was his foray into writing. He co-wrote Hansal Mehta’s film Omerta. Speaking about this creative transition, he told Eastern Eye, “I am an actor, who now also writes, and that passion stems from my love for reading. When I started writing Omerta, it wasn’t with the intention of making it into a film. But then filmmaker Hansal Mehta picked it up and turned it into a movie. Writing is one of many interests I have and I am sure it will give me more moments like Omerta, but acting will always be my priority.” Also Read | Mukul Dev Death Live Updates: Actor-model dies at 54 ‘due to health related issues’, his last Instagram post talks about ‘dark forebodings’ When frequently asked about his elder brother Rahul Dev, who carved out his own niche in the industry as a leading villain in mainstream films, Mukul said, “Rahul’s my elder brother and I feel good to have someone in the industry who has helped me out.” The news of his passing has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with several colleagues and co-stars expressing their grief on social media. Mukul’s elder brother Rahul Dev also shared a message about his last rites. Sharing a photo of Mukul, he wrote, “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our brother Mukul Dev passed away peacefully last night in New Delhi. He is survived by his daughter, Sia Dev, and will be dearly missed by his siblings Rashmi Kaushal, Rahul Dev, and his nephew Sidhant Dev. The cremation will take place today at 5 PM.” Actor Sonu Sood, who shared screen space with Mukul in films like R. Rajkumar, took to X (formerly Twitter) to pay tribute. "RIP Mukul bhai 💔 You were a gem. Will always miss you. Stay strong @RahulDevRising Bhai," he wrote. RIP Mukul bhai 💔 You were a gem. Will always miss you. Stay strong @RahulDevRising bhai. pic.twitter.com/o0ER978euR — sonu sood (@SonuSood) May 24, 2025 Vindhu Dara Singh, who acted alongside Mukul in the blockbuster comedy Son of Sardaar, also remembered his late co-star. "Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong where you will spread joy and happiness to the viewers and make them fall down laughing!" Singh also shared a video clip featuring the two enacting their characters from the film. Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev ! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong where you will spread joy and happiness to the viewers and make them fall down laughing ! pic.twitter.com/oyj4j7kqGU — Vindu Dara Singh (@RealVinduSingh) May 24, 2025 Earlier, actor Manoj Bajpayee had taken to X to share a heartfelt message about the late actor. “It’s impossible to put into words what I’m feeling. Mukul was a brother in spirit, an artist whose warmth and passion were unmatched. Gone too soon, too young. Praying for strength and healing for his family and everyone grieving this loss. Miss you meri jaan…until we meet again, Om Shanti. 🙏🏼” It’s impossible to put into words what I’m feeling. Mukul was a brother in spirit, an artist whose warmth and passion were unmatched. Gone too soon, too young. Praying for strength and healing for his family and everyone grieving this loss. Miss you meri jaan…until we meet… pic.twitter.com/grfN3XKz7b — manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) May 24, 2025 Actress Deepshikha also expressed her shock, posting a photo with Mukul and writing, “I can’t believe this.” He will be repeatedly last seen in the film Son of Sarfat 2, which is scheduled to release later this year.
