Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, Satish Shah, And Other Stars We Lost In 2025

As the final chapters of 2025 draw to a close, the world of entertainment and public life reflects on a year marked by the loss of some of its most enduring icons. From the titans of Bollywood to transformative voices of pop culture, the year saw the departure of some figures who didn't just entertain, but fundamentally shaped the Indian culture.

This year's farewells have felt particularly poignant, spanning a diverse range of legacies, including legendary actors such as Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, Asrani, and Satish Shah, whose careers lasted decades. The list also includes icons like Piyush Pandey who became a household name, and some tragic deaths like Shefali Jariwala and Zubeen Garg, that shocked the country.

Dharmendra: Bollywood’s original "He-Man" passed away on Nov. 24, closing the curtain on a career that spanned generations, genres, and over 300 films. The 'Sholay' superstar died due to illness and age-related ailments at his Mumbai residence.

Manoj Kumar: The man who practically defined patriotic Hindi cinema for generations and made "Bharat" a feeling on screen bowed out quietly on April 4, leaving behind films that still play like national memory. Kumar died of heart-related complications.

Govardhan Asrani: A master of timing, Asrani could steal a scene with a single line and he did it across decades — from classic comedies to later-day crowd-pleasers. Asrani passed away on Oct. 20 due to breathing complications linked to fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), leading to respiratory failure.

Satish Shah: From Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro to Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Satish Shah’s comedy felt natural, it felt lived-in, razor-sharp, and oddly comforting. Shah, who worked in Bollywood films and television industry, passed away on Oct. 25. Reports initially cited kidney failure, but later statements from colleagues indicated he succumbed to a sudden cardiac arrest.

Sandhya Shantaram: A name tied to the golden-age grandeur of Hindi-Marathi cinema, Sandhya embodied an era where performance and poise carried equal weight. Her legacy remains inseparable from some of Indian cinema’s most celebrated classics. She died on Oct. 4 due to age-related issues.

Shefali Jariwala: The Kaanta Laga girl, Shefali Jariwala's sudden death shocked the industry and triggered wide public scrutiny. She collapsed at home on June 27, with preliminary reports pointing to cardiac arrest. However, her medical samples were collected from her residence for further investigation.

Pankaj Dheer: Forever 'Karna' to TV audiences, Pankaj Dheer carried mythic gravitas on screen — and then reinvented himself across films and shows for decades. He passed away on Oct.15 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Dheeraj Kumar: Dheeraj Kumar was an actor, producer, and a familiar name across eras in television and cinema. He died on July 15 after breathing problems and pneumonia-related complications.

Zubeen Garg: For Assam and the Northeast, Zubeen wasn't just a singer, he was a movement, a voice that made local pride mainstream. His death became a major public moment, followed by intense media attention and legal developments. Garg died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on Sept 19.

Kamini Kaushal: One of Hindi cinema’s earliest stars, Kamini Kaushal passed away on Nov. 13 due to age-related health complications at her Mumbai home.

Sulakshana Pandit: Sulakshana Pandit, who hailed from a distinguished musical family passed away on Nov. 6 due to cardiac arrest. A playback singer herself, Pandit was a niece of Pandit Jasraj and sister of composer duo Jatin‑Lalit.

Mukul Dev: Mukul Dev built a career on a range of television series to films, often slipping between hero, villain, and character roles without fuss. He passed away on May 23 after being hospitalised for an undisclosed illness.

Piyush Pandey: If Indian advertising ever sounded like India itself, a huge part of that was Piyush Pandey. He was earthy, funny, emotional, and instantly quotable. His lines didn’t just sell products, they entered everyday lingo. Pandey died on Oct. 24 due to pneumonia complications.

Pritish Nandy: Poet, journalist, and producer – Nandy lived at the crossroads of media, culture and politics, always sharper than the room. He passed away on Jan. 8 due to cardiac arrest at home in Mumbai.

Varinder Singh Ghuman: A trailblazer in Indian bodybuilding and a proud Punjabi pop figure, Varinder became shorthand for strength, not just physical, but cultural. His sudden death on Oct. 9 jolted the fitness world. He died due to a heart attack during medical treatment in Amritsar.

B. Saroja Devi: An icon across Kannada, Tamil and Telugu cinema, Saroja Devi was pan-South before that label even existed. She passed away on July 14 due to age-related illness.

• Connie Francis, singer-actress: July 16

• Hulk Hogan, professional wrestler and actor: July 24

• David Lynch, filmmaker: Jan 15

• Diane Keaton, actress: Oct 11

• Val Kilmer, actor: April 1

• Ozzy Osbourne, musician: July 22

• Robert Redford, actor, director and producer: Sept. 16

• Rob Reiner, actor, director and producer: Dec 14

• Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor: July 20