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2025 Yearender: Death casts long shadow over Bollywood
As the curtains fall on 2025, the industry pauses to remember those who took their final bow.
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IANS - Mon, 22, Dec 2025
- 04:06 EST
- 17
Dharmendra, Late Bollywood Actor / Sunny Deol/Instagram
Over the course of 2025, Bollywood lost several well-known names, including Dharmendra, Asrani, Manoj Kumar and Pankaj Dheer — talents whose work left a lasting imprint on Indian cinema and popular culture.
Each passing left behind memories, milestones and a profound void. As the curtains fall on 2025, the industry pauses to remember those who took their final bow.
November 2025 proved especially testing.
The month began with concern after veteran actor Dharmendra was admitted to hospital with breathing complications. Weeks later, anxiety turned to grief for the Deol family.
The original “He-Man” of Bollywood, Dharmendra, whose screen presence defined an era, died Nov. 24 at age 89. His death marked the end of a remarkable chapter in Indian cinema.
Weeks before Dharmendra’s demise, the industry suffered another loss. Veteran actress and singer Sulakshana Pandit, known for sharing screen space with Vinod Khanna, Shashi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna, died Nov. 7. The departure of the two stars turned November into a period of collective mourning.
October 2025 had its share of tears.
The industry bid adieu to Pankaj Dheer, remembered for his portrayal of Karna on Hindi television, and Satish Kaushik, beloved for his role as Indravardhan Sarabhai in the cult sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. Their deaths on Oct. 15 and Oct. 25, respectively, deepened the sense of loss.
September 2025 added to the heartbreak.
The sudden death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore shocked the industry and his fans across the country. Known for his powerful voice and work across Hindi, Bengali and Assamese music, Zubeen died Sept. 19 at age 52. His untimely demise left a silence felt far beyond the music world.
June 2025 stunned many.
The morning of June 27 began with disbelief as news of Shefali Jariwala’s death spread. Popularly known as Bollywood’s original “Kaanta Laga” girl, Shefali later carved out a distinct space with appearances on Bigg Boss 13 and the television show Shaitani Rasmein. She died at age 42.
May 2025 unfolded painfully.
Actor Mukul Dev, brother of Rahul Dev, died May 23 at age 54. He left behind the film Son of Sardaar, released months after his death, marking the final time fans saw him onscreen.
The sombre tone for 2025 was set earlier in April with the death of legendary actor Manoj Kumar.
He died at age 87 following heart-related complications. The star, whose career spanned more than four decades and whose name became synonymous with patriotism on screen, left behind an enduring legacy as both an actor and filmmaker in Hindi cinema.
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