Actor Mukul Dev passes away at 54: A look at his life and career

Actor Mukul Dev passed away on May 23, 2025, at the age of 54. Though he had been unwell and in the ICU, the cause of death remains undisclosed. His close friends and family are mourning the sudden loss, with actress Deepshikha Nagpal and Vindu Dara Singh among those expressing their heartfelt tributes.

Born on September 17, 1970, in New Delhi, Mukul hailed from a Punjabi family with cultural influences from Afghanistan, thanks to his father Hari Dev, a police officer. Fluent in Pashto and Persian, Mukul’s early exposure to performance came when he mimicked Michael Jackson on Doordarshan in class 8, marking his first paid gig.

Before embracing acting, Mukul Dev trained at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi and worked as a commercial pilot for almost a decade. Later, he transitioned to films and television, also running an aeronautical training institute. His unusual journey from aviation to acting remains a unique chapter in his life story.

Mukul Dev made his acting debut in the TV serial Mumkin in 1996 and his Bollywood debut with Dastak the same year. He starred in over 60 films across Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu cinema. Notable films include Son of Sardaar, R... Rajkumar, and Jai Ho, showcasing his wide-ranging talent.

His last film, Anth The End (2022), was a mystery thriller where he starred alongside Divya Dutta and others. On TV, he last appeared in 21 Sarfarosh (2018) and was featured in the web series State of Siege: 26/11 (2020). Mukul Dev leaves behind a rich legacy of cross-industry work that will be fondly remembered.