Veteran Bollywood actor Jagdeep, known for his work in films such as Sholay, Andaz Apna Apna and Purana Mandir, has died. He was 81.
Father of actor Javed Jafferi and television host Naved, the actor worked in over 400 films. Bollywood fraternity mourned his death on social media.
A close friend of the family said the actor, real name Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri, was not keeping well. "He passed away at 8.30 pm at his residence in Bandra. He was not keeping well due to age-related issues," producer Mehmood Ali, a close family friend, told Indian Daily.
Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri who later took the screen name, of Jagdeep, started his cinematic career as a child artist in 1951, after featuring in a movie called Afsana.
He then went on to work in films like Ab Dilli Door Nahin, Munna, Do Bigha Zamin and Aar Paar.
Jagdeep's golden patch would begin with GP Sippy's 1968 film Brahmachari, starring Shammi Kapoor. His comic role in the film was widely appreciated.
Through the seventies, eighties and the nineties, he became a familiar face in Hindi films, essaying the goofy funnyman in film after film.
His last-released film is Masti Nahi Sasti in 2017. The Ali Abbas Chaudhary-directed comedy also featured Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Johnny Lever and Prem Chopra.
Tributes poured in on social media from Jagdeep’s co-star and colleagues.