Mumbai: Actor Gufi Paintal, best known for playing ‘Shakuni mama’ in the epic TV serial “Mahabharat”, died on Monday at a hospital here due to age-related issues, his nephew Hiten Paintal said.
He was 79.
The veteran actor, whose real name was Saravjit Singh Paintal, was admitted to a hospital in suburban Andheri.
Hiten said, “Unfortunately, he is no more. He passed away at the hospital at around 9 am. His heart gave up. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.”
Actor Mukesh Khanna, who played Bhishma in the DD series, said he had a long association with his “Mahabharat” co-star. “I had a long relationship with him since ‘Mahabharat’ and cast him in ‘Shaktimaan’ later. In ‘Mahabharat’, we had long confrontational scenes between each other. He was the one who called me for ‘Mahabharat’ and that marked the beginning of our association. He was the one who would call people, then there would be the audition,” Khanna said.
Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) paid tribute to Gufi Paintal on Twitter.
“CINTAA expresses its condolences on the demise of Gufi Paintal (Member since Sept. 1992),” the trade union posted.
Many actors have condoled the demise of vetern actor Gufi Paintal.
Gufi Paintal is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild. (with PTI inputs)
