New Delhi: Director, producer and actor Mangal Dhillon, who was battling cancer, passed away in a hospital in Ludhiana on Sunday. The actor had been receiving treatment for a while, but a few days ago, his condition deteriorated severely. He was 48.
Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal expressed his grief at Dhillon's passing and noted that it is an immense tragedy to the Indian film industry. “Saddened to learn about the demise of noted actor, writer, director and producer of Punjabi cine industry Mr Mangal Dhillon. It’s a big loss to the world of Indian Cinema. His captivating voice and theatrical displays will be missed by many. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and fans,” he wrote in a tweet.
Dhillon, who is a native of Faridkot in the Punjab, has established himself in the world of cinema and television shows. He spent some time voicing commercials in New Delhi and Mumbai as well as contributing to radio plays and Doordarshan.
Mangal Dhillon simultaneously worked in the cinema and television industries. He first appeared as Lubhaya Ram in the 1986 television series 'Buniyaad' before taking on the character of an advocate in the 1988 movie 'Khoon Bhari Maang', which had Rekha in the lead role.
After 'Buniyaad', he worked in around 30 Hindi feature films and television series, including 'Vishvaatma', 'Azad Desh Ke Ghulam', 'Junoon', and 'Noorjahaan'. He was last seen in the Fardeen Khan-starring film 'Janasheen' from 2003.