The abrupt passing of histrion Mukul Dev connected the nighttime of May 23 astatine the property of 54 near a heavy void successful the hearts of those who knew and admired him. While condolences and tributes poured successful from fans and colleagues, questions and speculation began to swirl astir the circumstances of his death.
Now, his elder member and chap histrion Rahul Dev breaks his soundlessness successful a speech with Bombay Times, offering a poignant and honorable relationship of Mukul’s last days.“He was successful the ICU for 8 and a fractional days,” Rahul shares successful a speech filled with grief and clarity. “Medically, it was owed to mediocre eating habits. In the past 4 to 5 days, helium had stopped eating altogether. Of course, helium felt lonely. He had mislaid involvement successful life.
Usko zindagi jeene ka jazba nahi tha. He turned down respective enactment offers.”Mukul had shifted to Delhi successful 2019 to attraction for their ailing father, who passed distant that aforesaid year. Their parent died successful 2023, leaving Mukul successful the solitude of grief. “Only now, aft completing each the rituals, is the world sinking in,” Rahul says. “And I cognize the symptom volition lone deepen.”Withdrawal, Writing, and Quiet StrugglesRahul recalls however Mukul gradually retreated into himself.
He recovered solace successful writing—his originative outlet—but it came with its ain isolation. “He invested himself successful penning and became much reclusive,” Rahul shares. “I kept encouraging him to instrumentality to acting. He missed his girl immensely. He wasn’t looking aft himself, and surviving unsocial didn’t help.”Addressing the nationalist speculation that followed his brother’s death, Rahul speaks candidly. “People who are speaking present weren’t adjacent successful interaction with him. They accidental helium was unfit, but helium ran half-marathons. Yes, helium gained weight—but erstwhile idiosyncratic stops caring, it shows. He felt isolated. Who truly stayed successful interaction betwixt 2019 and 2024? Did they sojourn him successful the infirmary oregon be his supplication meet?”Despite the interior turmoil, Mukul had continued working.
He had 2 upcoming releases and had precocious changeable for Son of Sardaar successful England. “No 1 volition formed you if you're not fit,” Rahul adds. “He was working. He wasn’t finished.”The Irony of a Social Soul Left AloneThough a divorcee and father, Mukul had ne'er remarried. Rahul, who besides mislaid his wife, reflects connected the affectional value of separation. “I’m a widower, and helium was a divorcee. Sometimes I wonder—is it a benignant of curse? When you suffer idiosyncratic you emotion deeply, it’s incredibly hard.
Har koi akele aata hai, akele jaata hai, radical say—but surviving that loneliness is different.”He adds, “Mukul was ne'er meant to beryllium alone. He was ever surrounded by people, particularly women. Even arsenic a child, helium was effortlessly charming. I was the shy one. He was a prima earlier helium became one. The irony is, idiosyncratic truthful socially talented ended up truthful alone. He ne'er remarried, ne'er tried again. That was his life—full of ironies.
I privation helium had been much receptive... things could’ve changed.”A Brother, A Friend, A Gentle ForceRahul, who is little than 2 years older than Mukul, often played the elder, much liable role. “I’d scold him astir his health, and he’d debar me—especially towards the end,” helium smiles wistfully. He remembers a puerility communicative erstwhile their parent was narrating the communicative of Shravan Kumar. “While I softly teared up, Mukul said, ‘I’ll instrumentality you and dada astir the satellite erstwhile you crook blind.’
And our ma laughed and said, ‘We’re perfectly fine, wherefore bash you privation to unsighted america conscionable to question with us?’” Rahul laughs, adjacent successful grief—capturing Mukul’s quirky, loving personality.“Kamaal Tha Woh”: Remembering Mukul DevAs helium reflects connected his brother’s legacy, Rahul urges radical to look beyond the sadness and retrieve the vibrancy. “He wasn’t a bechara. He was razor-sharp, incredibly gifted. He could’ve been anything—a pilot, a writer, an actor. He had a photographic memory—he’d memorize South Indian dialogues successful minutes, portion I’d instrumentality hours. He brought charm, wit, and joyousness into each room.”“I take to retrieve him not arsenic the antheral who faded away, but arsenic the intelligent, sensitive, and ace charming idiosyncratic helium genuinely was,” Rahul says softly. “Kamaal tha woh. That’s the Mukul I knew. That’s the Mukul the satellite should remember.”