Veteran Punjabi film actor Mehar Mittal, who was best known for his comedy roles, died on Saturday, family sources said.
Mittal, who had been ailing for the past few months, died in a hospital at the Brahma Kumari complex at Mount Abu. The popular actor, who was virtually part of all Punjabi films at one time, died only two days before he was to turn 81.
The rumours of his death made rounds in social media two weeks back. So strong were the rumours that many from the Punjabi film industry posted ‘RIP’ messages on their Facebook pages.
Sanjeev Gupta, an advocate in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Mehar Mittal’s grandson, confirmed the news of his demise. “He was in coma for 3-4 days. On Saturday afternoon he suffered a stroke which he couldn’t bear,” said Gupta, who can’t help but talk about the last time he met Mehar Mittal. They had met recently. “He looked happy and at peace,” Gupta said.
As Sanjeev painstakingly recollects the memories of going out with this brilliant actor, he tells us how his fans would surround the versatile actor wherever he went. “He was something like the characters he portrayed on celluloid.”
Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh expressed grief and sorrow over Mittal’s demise. Badal said: “With Mittal’s death, a void has been created in Punjabi culture and film industry, which was difficult to be filled.”
Amarinder Singh described his demise as a loss not only for the bereaved family but also the Punjabi entertainment industry.
Aam Aadmi Party state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich ‘Ghuggi’, who is also an actor known for his comic roles, said: “Mehar Mittal ji was an asset for the Punjabi theatre and his demise is a great loss to the art world.”
Actor-comedian Binnu Dhillon, who had the chance of meeting Mehar Mittal at a function where Mittal was being honoured recalls, “The young generation or the old timers, he was a role model for all Punjabi comedians.”
Binnu talks about an incident when the distributors refused to take up ‘Chann Pardesi’ because it didn’t have Mehar Mittal in it. Later, the makers had to include him in the cast. “Such was his popularity that a film would sell only in his name. People would watch a particular film because it had Mehar Mittal in the cast,” says Dhillon.
Born on October 24, 1935, in a village in Bathinda district of south-west Punjab, Mittal took to the stage with small roles in Ram Lilas. He acted in plays before getting a break in movies. He acted in over 100 Punjabi films from 1974 till 1998.
Before becoming a full-time actor, Mittal had tried his hand at teaching and practising law.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh condoled Mittal's death, describing it as a major loss to the Punjabi entertainment industry.
"Mittal's contribution to the Punjabi film industry was immense," Amarinder said.
Mittal was awarded for his selfless, devoted and inspiring services as a cine artist in Punjabi films by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy.
