Actor Mukul Dev Dies at 54 in New Delhi: A Life Lived Across Skies and Screens

Actor Mukul Dev, who passed away at the age of 54 on Friday in New Delhi, wasn’t just known for his work in film and television—he also had a deep love for flying. Though he wasn’t very active on social media, his final Instagram posts hinted at a somber state of mind.
On February 26 of this year, Mukul shared a haunting video from the cockpit of an aircraft, flying high above the clouds. With Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon playing in the background, he captioned the post: "And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too.... I'll see you on the dark side of the moon. #crosscountry." That same day, he posted a photo of an aircraft, writing: "Echo November India. She gave me wings and taught me a few tricks in the skies. #learningtofly."
A trained commercial pilot, Mukul completed his aviation training at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Aviation in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. He flew for nearly a decade before shifting his focus fully to acting. At one point, he even ran an aeronautical training institute in Delhi. In a 2011 interview, Mukul explained why many were unaware of his aviation background: "That’s because I haven’t been flying. One can’t say, ‘Look, I’ll be shooting for a month and then go back to flying.’ So I had to quit it."
Born on September 17, 1970, in New Delhi, Mukul had a long and varied career in Indian cinema and television. He started his acting journey in 1996 with the TV show Mumkin, and made his film debut that same year in Dastak alongside Sushmita Sen. Over the years, he worked in Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam films. Some of his most notable roles were in Son of Sardaar, R...Rajkumar, and Jai Ho.
Following news of his passing, tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry. Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who starred with him in Dastak, shared an emotional message on Instagram: "It's impossible to put into words what I'm feeling. Mukul was a brother in spirit, an artist whose warmth and passion were unmatched. Gone too soon, too young. Praying for strength and healing for his family and everyone grieving this loss. Miss you meri jaan...until we meet again. Om Shanti."
Actor Vindu Dara Singh also mourned the loss on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong where you will spread joy and happiness to the viewers and make them fall down laughing!"
From soaring through the skies to leaving a mark on the silver screen, Mukul Dev lived a life full of passion, artistry, and purpose. He will be deeply missed.