Actor Mukul Dev, known for his work across multiple Indian film industries and his debut opposite Sushmita Sen in Dastak (1996), passed away late on Friday, May 23, at the age of 54. According to a report by IANS, friends arrived at his residence on Saturday after hearing of his passing. The news was later confirmed by actress Deepshikha Nagpal, who paid tribute by sharing a photograph of the two on Instagram, accompanied by the caption, “RIP.” As we remember the late actor, here’s all you need to know about Mukul Dev, his debut film, his career, last film and more.
Mukul Dev early life
Born on September 17, 1970, in New Delhi, Mukul Dev hailed from a Punjabi family with ancestral roots near Jalandhar. His father, Hari Dev, served as an assistant commissioner of police and introduced his son to Afghan culture early in life. Mukul later became fluent in Pashto and Persian, a rare distinction among his peers.
His initial exposure to performance came during his school years. As a student in Class 8, Dev earned his first paycheck for impersonating Michael Jackson in a Doordarshan dance program. Though lighthearted, the experience foreshadowed his eventual entry into entertainment.
Mukul Dev debut film
Mukul Dev in Jaadu Bhari Aankho Wali Suno Song from Dastak 🥹
You will be missed 😭#MukulDev pic.twitter.com/LBJOXyTF1r— FilmiFever (@FilmiFever) May 24, 2025
In 1996, Mukul Dev made his official debut in Bollywood with Dastak, opposite Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. That same year, he made his television debut in the series Mumkin, setting the stage for a career that would span television, cinema, web series, and music videos.
Mukul Dev career
Over the decades, Dev appeared in more than 60 films across several languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. Among his more notable roles were appearances in commercial hits such as Son of Sardaar, R… Rajkumar, and Jai Ho. He was also seen in the 2020 web series State of Siege: 26/11, which explored the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was also seen in movies like Wajood (1998), Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena (2005) and Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011), Awara (2012), Meeruthiya Gangsters (2015), Zorawar (2016) and Daud Pakad (2017). Omerta (2018). The actor shot for his last film, Son Of Sardaar 2, along with Ajay Devgn and Mrunal Thakur, which is yet to be released.
On television, he became popular for his portrayal of Gul Badshah in the 2018 historical series 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897. He also hosted the inaugural season of a stunt-based reality show. His last big screen appearance was in the film Ant The End in 2022. Directed by K. S. Malhotra, the film also featured Divya Dutta, Dev Sharma, Samikssha Batnagar, among others. It was a mystery thriller with a runtime of around 106 minutes.
“After the death of his parents, Mukul was isolating himself. He would not even step out of the house and meet anyone,” said Vindu Dara Singh, his friend, adding “His health deteriorated in the last few days and he was in the hospital. My condolences to his brother and all those who knew and loved him. He was a wonderful person, and we will all miss him.”
Mukul Dev is survived by his brother, actor Rahul Dev.