‘Mahabharat’ fame dies at 79
The veteran actor’s real name was Sarabjit Singh Paintal
Veteran actor Gufi Paintal, best known for playing Shakuni mama in the epic TV serial ‘Mahabharat’, died on June 5 at a hospital in Mumbai 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.
“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,” Hiten told the top news agency.
Hiten had earlier told the same agency that his uncle was not keeping well due to age-related health issues.
Veteran 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 with each other. He was the one who called me for the serial ‘Mahabharat’ and that marked the beginning of our association. He was the one who would call people
His acting credits also include Hindi films such as ‘Suhaag’ and ‘Dillagi’
and then there would be the audition,” Khanna told the agency.
The Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) paid tribute to Gufi Paintal on ‘Twitter’.
“CINTAA expresses its condolences on the demise of Gufi Paintal (a member since September 1992),” the trade union posted.
Actor Nimrat Kaur remembered the actor as ‘the indelible Shakuni Mama from our childhood days’.
“Such a stellar contribution to the Indian cinematic landscape. Prayers and strength to the family. Rest in peace, Gufi Paintal ji,” she tweeted.
‘Dahaad’ star Gulshan Devaiah shared Gufi Paintal’s photo on ‘Twitter’ and tweeted his condolences.
“Sarabjeet Singh ‘Gufi’ Paintal, October 4, 1944, to June 5, 2023,” Devaiah wrote in the caption.
Paintal’s acting credits also include 1980s Hindi films such as ‘Suhaag’, ‘Dillagi’, as well as television shows ‘CID’ and ‘Hello Inspector’, but his manipulative uncle role as Shakuni mama, the king of the Gandhara region and master of the dice, from BR Chopra’s ‘Mahabharat’ made him a household name.