Veteran Actor-Producer Dheeraj Kumar Dies At 79 Of Pneumonia
Updated on: 15 July, 2025 03:57 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Actor-Director Dheeraj Kumar passes away at 79
Veteran actor and producer Dheeraj Kumar, who was known for his incredible work in Hindi and Punjabi cinema, passed away after battling severe pneumonia. He breathed his last in a private hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday, July 15.
According to sources, he was diagnosed with acute pneumonia and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). After suffering from multiple organ failure, he was put on ventilator support yesterday. Kumar took his last breath around 11:00 am today, with his son present during his final moments.
The news of the veteran actor`s death has come as a shock to the entertainment industry. The cremation and last rites are expected to take place tomorrow.
About Dheeraj Kumar`s career
Kumar entered into the entertainment industry in 1965 after participating in a talent show, in which late superstar Rajesh Khanna also participated and emerged as the winner.
In an interview with The Hindu, he recalled his journey in the talent show and recalled how Rajesh Khanna became a superstar. This was after the legendary actor`s passing away in 2012. The two even worked together in the 1977 film, Tyaag.
Dheeraj Kumar said, "In a talent contest in Mumbai in the 1960s, three were selected to be actors among some 10,000 aspirants — Rajesh Khanna, myself and Subhash Ghai, who went on to become a director. So our journey in the industry started together. Subsequently, he became a superstar.”
Five years after the show, he made his acting debut with 1970`s Raaton Ka Raja, co-starring Shatrughan Sinha. He then went on to be a pivotal part of many movies like Heera Panna (1973), Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Sargam (1979), and Kranti (1981).
Between 1970 and 1984, he became a prominent name in the Punjabi film industry, starring in over 21 films before starting his own production house, Creative Eye. He backed several popular television shows, such as Om Namah Shivay (1997) and Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann (2006). In 2009, Creative Eye produced the Zee5 web series Ishq Aaj Kal.
Radio City extends heartfelt condolences to his friends and family. Rest in peace, Dheeraj Kumar.
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