Silent Battles and Fading Spirit
Rahul revealed that Mukul spent over eight days in intensive care before his passing. According to Rahul, the root cause was his brother’s neglect of personal health, especially his eating habits. During his last days, Mukul had stopped consuming food altogether, which reflected a complete loss of interest in life. Despite being offered work, he consistently turned down projects. His spark seemed to have dimmed.
“He was in the ICU for eight and a half days. Medically, it was a result of poor eating habits. In the last four-five days, he had stopped eating altogether. Of course, he felt lonely, and he had lost interest in life. Usko zindagi jeene ka jazba nahi tha..” he revealed.
Mukul had moved to Delhi in 2019 to care for their ill father, who sadly passed the same year. The loss of their mother in 2023 further deepened his emotional wounds. Rahul confessed that only after completing the last rites has the weight of this loss started to fully register—a grief he knows will grow with time.
Withdrawal and the Solitude of Creativity
Rahul described how Mukul began retreating into himself, eventually turning to writing. Though a deeply creative pursuit, writing also became a space of isolation for Mukul. He found temporary solace in storytelling but lacked the human connection he truly craved. Living alone and missing his daughter, who wasn’t with him, only intensified his emotional isolation.Rahul repeatedly encouraged Mukul to return to the acting world, believing that his brother still had much to offer. Despite being physically fit enough to run half-marathons, Mukul had visibly let himself go — a reflection of his inner disengagement.
Addressing Rumors and the Reality of His Struggles
Rahul also took the opportunity to respond to those who commented on Mukul’s supposed poor health or depression without being part of his life. Many of these individuals, he stated, were never in contact with Mukul during his most vulnerable years, from 2019 to 2024. While Mukul had two upcoming film projects and had recently worked in the UK for Son of Sardaar, it was clear he was grappling with more than just professional hurdles.
The Pain of Being Alone
Both Rahul and Mukul had faced life after losing their partners—Rahul as a widower and Mukul after a separation. Rahul reflected on how the loneliness that follows such losses can become unbearable. Despite Mukul’s naturally social and charismatic personality, his later years were marked by isolation. He never remarried, never sought new companionship, and instead, closed himself off more deeply over time.
Remembering the Real Mukul
Though the end of Mukul’s life was marked by solitude, Rahul prefers to hold onto brighter memories. He recalls his brother as intelligent, witty, charming, and undoubtedly talented—someone who could memorize complex lines in minutes and captivate people effortlessly. A memory from childhood stood out—where Mukul jokingly promised to take their parents around the world once they were blind, reflecting his mix of humor and affection.
Rahul said he decided to honour his brother as a multi-talented man who brought laughter, brilliance, and energy into every space he entered. That vibrant, sensitive spirit is the legacy Rahul wants the world to remember.
Who Was Mukul Dev?
Actor Mukul Dev, widely recognized for his work across Hindi, Punjabi, and South Indian cinema as well as television, passed away last month at the age of 54, leaving the Indian entertainment industry in mourning. Beginning his career in 1996 with the TV show Mumkin and making his film debut the same year in Dastak alongside Sushmita Sen, Mukul quickly gained recognition for his versatility.
Over the years, he featured in films spanning multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam. Known for his roles in popular films like Son of Sardaar, R…Rajkumar, and Jai Ho, he built a diverse and impactful filmography. Apart from acting, he also ventured into screenwriting and co-wrote Hansal Mehta’s critically acclaimed 2017 film Omerta, starring Rajkummar Rao. News of his death prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues and fans, who remembered him as a talented and multifaceted artist.
