The sudden passing of actor Mukul Dev on the night of May 23 at the age of 54 left a deep void in the hearts of those who knew and admired him. While condolences and tributes poured in from fans and colleagues, questions and speculation began to swirl around the circumstances of his death. Now, his elder brother and fellow actor Rahul Dev breaks his silence in a conversation with Bombay Times, offering a poignant and honest account of Mukul’s final days.“He was in the ICU for eight and a half days,” Rahul shares in a conversation filled with grief and clarity. “Medically, it was due to poor eating habits. In the last four to five days, he had stopped eating altogether. Of course, he felt lonely. He had lost interest in life. Usko zindagi jeene ka jazba nahi tha. He turned down several work offers.”Mukul had shifted to Delhi in 2019 to care for their ailing father, who passed away that same year. Their mother died in 2023, leaving Mukul in the solitude of grief. “Only now, after completing all the rituals, is the reality sinking in,” Rahul says. “And I know the pain will only deepen.”Withdrawal, Writing, and Quiet StrugglesRahul recalls how Mukul gradually retreated into himself. He found solace in writing—his creative outlet—but it came with its own isolation. “He invested himself in writing and became more reclusive,” Rahul shares. “I kept encouraging him to return to acting. He missed his daughter immensely. He wasn’t looking after himself, and living alone didn’t help.”Addressing the public speculation that followed his brother’s death, Rahul speaks candidly. “People who are speaking now weren’t even in touch with him. They say he was unfit, but he ran half-marathons. Yes, he gained weight—but when someone stops caring, it shows. He felt isolated. Who really stayed in touch between 2019 and 2024? Did they visit him in the hospital or attend his prayer meet?”Despite the inner turmoil, Mukul had continued working. He had two upcoming releases and had recently shot for Son of Sardaar in England. “No one will cast you if you’re not fit,” Rahul adds. “He was working. He wasn’t finished.”The Irony of a Social Soul Left AloneThough a divorcee and father, Mukul had never remarried. Rahul, who also lost his wife, reflects on the emotional weight of separation. “I’m a widower, and he was a divorcee. Sometimes I wonder—is it a kind of curse? When you lose someone you love deeply, it’s incredibly hard. Har koi akele aata hai, akele jaata hai, people say—but living that loneliness is different.”He adds, “Mukul was never meant to be alone. He was always surrounded by people, especially women. Even as a child, he was effortlessly charming. I was the shy one. He was a star before he became one. The irony is, someone so socially gifted ended up so alone. He never remarried, never tried again. That was his life—full of ironies. I wish he had been more receptive… things could’ve changed.”A Brother, A Friend, A Gentle ForceRahul, who is less than two years older than Mukul, often played the elder, more responsible role. “I’d scold him about his health, and he’d avoid me—especially towards the end,” he smiles wistfully. He remembers a childhood story when their mother was narrating the tale of Shravan Kumar. “While I quietly teared up, Mukul said, ‘I’ll take you and dad around the world when you turn blind.’ And our mom laughed and said, ‘We’re perfectly fine, why do you want to blind us just to travel with us?’” Rahul laughs, even in grief—capturing Mukul’s quirky, loving personality.“Kamaal Tha Woh”: Remembering Mukul DevAs he reflects on his brother’s legacy, Rahul urges people to look beyond the sadness and remember the vibrancy. “He wasn’t a bechara. He was razor-sharp, incredibly gifted. He could’ve been anything—a pilot, a writer, an actor. He had a photographic memory—he’d memorize South Indian dialogues in minutes, while I’d take hours. He brought charm, wit, and joy into every room.”“I choose to remember him not as the man who faded away, but as the intelligent, sensitive, and super charming person he truly was,” Rahul says softly. “Kamaal tha woh. That’s the Mukul I knew. That’s the Mukul the world should remember.”
