Mukul Dev, ‘Son of Sardaar’ actor, dies at 54; film, TV industry mourns loss

Actor Mukul Dev, known for his roles in films such as ‘Son of Sardaar’, ‘R… Rajkumar’ and ‘Jai Ho’, passed away on Friday night. He was 54.

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The cause of death has not yet been officially confirmed. The reports indicate he had been unwell and was in the ICU in his final days.

The news was first confirmed by actress and close friend Deepshikha Nagpal, who posted an old photograph with Mukul on Instagram Stories with the caption, “Can’t believe this. RIP.”

Film industy pays tributes to Mukul Dev

Actor Vindu Dara Singh, who co-starred with Mukul in ‘Son of Sardaar’, also confirmed the news on social media platform X, saying, “Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong!”

Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev ! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong where you will spread joy and happiness to the viewers and make them fall down laughing ! pic.twitter.com/oyj4j7kqGU

— Vindu Dara Singh (@RealVinduSingh) May 24, 2025

Tributes have begun pouring in from across the film industry, with actors and fans expressing shock over his untimely demise. Actor Manoj Bajpayee, among others remembered him as a warm and brotherly figure.

It’s impossible to put into words what I’m feeling. Mukul was a brother in spirit, an artist whose warmth and passion were unmatched. Gone too soon, too young. Praying for strength and healing for his family and everyone grieving this loss. Miss you meri jaan…until we meet… pic.twitter.com/grfN3XKz7b

— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) May 24, 2025

Mukul, younger brother of Rahul Dev, was last seen in the Hindi film ‘Anth The End’.

His first experience with performance came while he was in Class 8, when he impersonated Michael Jackson in a Doordarshan-organised dance show, earning him his first pay cheque. He made his television debut in 1996 with the serial ‘Mumkin’, later appearing in ‘Ek Se Badhkar Ek’, and went on to host the first season of ‘Fear Factor India’.

Mukul made his film debut with ‘Dastak’. He played the role of ACP Rohit Malhotra opposite former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen in her acting debut.

Born in Delhi to a Punjabi family with roots in a village near Jalandhar, he was the son of the late Hari Dev, an assistant commissioner of police. Mukul appreciated the Afghan culture, was fluent in Pashto and Persian, and was a trained pilot from the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi.