Renowned television actor and producer Dheeraj Kumar passed away on Monday at the age of 79 following complications from pneumonia. He had been admitted in critical condition to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, where he was undergoing treatment and placed on ventilator support in the intensive care unit.
Dheeraj Kumar was a prominent figure in the Indian entertainment industry, with a career spanning Hindi and Punjabi cinema as well as television. He was the founder of Creative Eye Limited, a production company known for creating popular mythological and spiritual shows such as Om Namah Shivay, Shree Ganesh, Jai Santoshi Maa, and Jap Tap Vrat—programs that left a lasting impact on Indian audiences.
Earlier, his family and production house had released a statement requesting privacy while he was hospitalized. “Dheeraj Kumar is under the close supervision of doctors and is undergoing treatment. The family is praying for his speedy recovery and also requests everyone to maintain his privacy during this difficult time,” the statement had read.
According to sources, his cremation is scheduled for Wednesday, once his close relatives arrive from Punjab to attend the final rites.
Dheeraj Kumar’s death marks the end of an era for Indian television, with colleagues and fans mourning the loss of a stalwart who contributed significantly to shaping the landscape of devotional and cultural programming.