From Ratan Tata, an industrialist who was so much more, to tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, who brought an instrument of accompaniment to the centre stage, and cinema icon Shyam Benegal, a pioneer in film-making. From Sitaram Yechury, a towering figure in Indian politics, to Sharda Sinha, whose soulful vocals made her a folk legend. From Pankaj Udhas, whose ghazals constitute the ultimate soundtrack to love, heartache and, well, life, to Rohit Bal, who redefined fashion designing and glamourised it as a career choice. Several famous Indians passed away in 2024.
Shashikant Ruia, another giant of Indian industry and cofounder of the Essar Group, was among those who bid their final adieu this year, as was fellow tycoon and media mogul Ramoji Rao.
Other noted personalities who passed away in 2024 include former foreign ministers K. Natwar Singh and S.M. Krishna, former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad, Bengali film-maker Raja Mitra, environmentalist Tulsi Gowda, former Haryana chief minister O.P. Chautala, and senior Congress leader EVKS Elangovan. This was also the year India lost its most beloved radio personality, Ameen Sayani.
Rituraj Singh, a TV actor who made a mark in the 1990s with his performances in series like Banegi Apni Baat, and Atul Parchure, a mammoth figure of Marathi cinema who also endeared himself to Hindi audiences, passed away this year as well.
Here is a list of famous Indians who died in 2024
- Shyam Benegal, Film-maker & Screenwriter, December 23
- Om Prakash Chautala, Politician, December 20
- Raja Mitra, Film-maker, December 20
- Tulsi Gowda, Environmentalist, December 16
- Zakir Hussain, Tabla maestro, December 15
- EVKS Elangovan, Politician, December 14
- S.M. Krishna, Politician, December 10, 2024
- Shashikant Ruia, Businessman, November 25
- Manoj Mitra, Playwright & Actor, November 12
- Sharda Sinha, Folk singer, November 5
- Rohit Bal, Fashion Designer, November 1
- Atul Parchure, Actor, October 14
- Ratan Tata, Businessman, October 9
- Sitaram Yechury, Politician, September 12
- Ram Narain Agarwal, Aerospace Engineer, August 15
- K. Natwar Singh, August 10
- Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Politician, August 8
- Anshuman Gaekwad, Cricketer, July 31
- Ramoji Rao, Businessman, June 8
- Sushil Kumar Modi, Politician, May 13
- Pankaj Udhas, Ghazal singer, February 26
- Manohar Joshi, Politician, February 23
- Rituraj Singh, Actor, February 20
- Ameen Sayani, Radio personality, February 20
- Nitya Anand, Medicinal chemist, January 27
- Munawwar Rana, Poet, January 14
- Ustad Rashid Khan, Classical singer, January 9