Nitesh Pandey Death: Rupali Ganguly Remembers Her Friend And Anupamaa Co-Actor, Says He Was 'Protective' About Her

Actor Nitesh Pandey, who was last seen as Dheeraj Kumar in the television show 'Anupamaa', passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 51 in Igatpuri near Nashik. 

New Delhi: Actor Nitesh Pandey, who was last seen as Dheeraj Kumar in the television show 'Anupamaa', passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 51 in Igatpuri near Nashik. 

Nitesh’s colleagues and friends from the tv industry were shocked by the news and remembered the actor. 

Nitesh's co-actor Rupali Ganguly, who plays the titular character in the show 'Anupamaa', is in disbelief at her co-actor's sudden demise. 

Sharing fond memories about her bond with Nitesh, Rupali told IANS "he was the only industry friend who stayed constantly in touch" with her apart from Delnaaz and Sarabhais, during her sabbatical. 
 
She added: "He had even come to meet me after Rudransh was born. I can't believe this! His son Aarav is just a few months older than Rudransh. He had messaged me just last week about a painting he had made and we had made plans to make our sons meet. We would bond over dogs. His wife Arpita is an animal caregiver and a feeder too like me. I am devastated! He was so fiercely protective about me." 
 
“Even when he came to 'Anupamaa', it felt as if you had your bestie next to you at your workplace. Just this month beginning, I had gone very late for a film's get together and saw his car leaving, so I called him and said I saw you and he said: "Tu ruk main aata hoon gaadi ghumake, and I said 'no no ghar jaa agle hafte milte hai.' Teen hafte ho gaye uss baat ko ('Wait, I'll just turn around my car and meet you. I told him to go home and that we will meet next week. It's been 3 weeks since) and now I will never meet him. I can't believe this,” she was quoted as saying by IANS. 

According to ANI, Pandey was found dead at his hotel and the police are investigating his death. “TV actor Nitesh Pandey found dead at a hotel in Igatpuri, Nashik in Maharashtra. Prima facie, the cause of death seems to be a heart attack. A police team present at the hotel and investigation is underway. Postmortem report is awaited. Questioning of hotel staff and people close to him is being done,” the news agency reported.   

Last seen in 'Anupamaa' and 'Pyar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara', Nitesh, who has been a popular face in the television industry for over two decades, was from Almora Kumaon in Uttarakhand.   

Apart from television, he also worked in films. His work in the National Award winning film 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' received widespread appreciation. He also starred in 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Badhaai Do'.  

He is now survived by his actress-wife Arpita Pandey.