Rakesh Pandey, a seasoned actor, passed away on March 21, 2025, at 8:50 am due to a cardiac arrest. He was 77 years old. Pandey was admitted to Arogya Nidhi Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai, where he was being treated in the ICU. His family, including his wife, daughter Jasmee Pandey, and granddaughter, survives him. His funeral took place on March 22 at Shastri Nagar crematorium.
Born on April 9, 1940, in Himachal Pradesh, India, Pandey began his acting career in 1969 with the film “Sara Akash,” where he played the role of Samar. He went on to work in numerous Hindi and Bhojpuri films, achieving significant success. One of his notable roles was as Mangal in the 1978 film “Mera Rakshak,” which brought him widespread recognition.
Pandey’s daughter, Jasmee, confirmed to ABP News that her father experienced chest pain and discomfort around 3:00 am on the night of March 20-21. He was immediately taken to the hospital but unfortunately passed away at 8:51 am on March 21.
Throughout his career, Pandey appeared in a range of films, including “Darwaza,” “Ye Hai Zindagi,” and “Wo Main Nahin,” leaving a lasting impact on audiences. In Bhojpuri cinema, he made a name for himself with films like “Balam Pardesiya” (1979), which received critical acclaim.
In addition to his film work, Pandey also worked in television, with notable roles in shows like “Choti Bahu” and “Dahleez.” He appeared in several popular films, including “Devdas” (2002), “Dil Chahta Hai” (2001), “Lakshya” (2004), and “Black” (2005). Pandey made a comeback in 2017 with Kapil Sharma’s “Firangi” and went on to work on projects like “Huddang” (2022) and the web series “The Lawyers.”