Actor Mahesh Anand (57) was found dead at his residence in Mumbai on Saturday morning. A post-mortem report revealed that he died naturally, ruling out the police’s initial suspicion of a suicide. He had been facing financial constraints for many years, with no film projects coming his way.
The actor was most popular for his roles as the villain in 80s and 90s Hindi, Tamil, Telugu films. He has acted with Rajinikanth in Veera (1994), Vijaykanth in Periya Marudhu (1994). In the Sathyaraj and Prabhu starrer Sivasakthi (1996),he played a smuggler, and starred in Chiranjeevi’s Veera Alluda Majaka (1995).
His last film was the January 2019 Hindi film Rangeela Raja, starring Govinda, with whom he’s collaborated often. The film marked his acting come back after 18 years. Ahead of its release, he wrote a Facebook post saying that he had only six minutes of screen time, but was excited to be back at work.
Some of his best films with Govinda were Coolie No. 1, Swarg, and Khuddar. He has also co starred Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Sanjay Dutt in films like Shahenshah, Kurukshetra and Vijeta.
In an interview with Cinestaan before the release of Rangeela Raja, he spoke about not being remembered despite having worked with many big stars. He said, “Nobody signed me for 18 years. But god came in the form of a human being and offered me a small role. It’s a stepping stone back into the industry. Actually it has not hit me till now because for 18 years I have lived alone, with no work and no money.”
He died at his flat in Versova, Mumbai, where he was living on his own. A police officer reportedly said his body was found in a decomposing state. The door was opened with the help of a fire brigade, and he he seemed to have been watching TV while he died. The Versova Police have registered a case of accidental death and informed Anand’s sister and wife.
Fans and a few celebrities mourned his death on Twitter. Among them was Ranvir Shourey, who said, “The man was a victim of the roller coaster ride that is Bollywood.”
Saddened to hear of Mahesh Anand’s demise. The man was a victim of the roller coaster ride that is Bollywood. RIP.
— रanviर_ डhoरeय_ (@RanvirShorey) February 9, 2019
#MaheshAnand who can forget his role in #Swarg & many more such films with bold villainic voice & acting at par, rest in peace, neglected actors by Bollywood fraternity, shameful
— Pradeep Garg (@Rounakmyson) February 10, 2019
Rest in peace #MaheshAnand ? had gr8 privilege of working with him as publicist in his debut film #bhappisonie s Sasti Dulhan Mahenga Dulha?
— Rajeev Chaudhari (@rajeevcreations) February 10, 2019
First saw #MaheshAnand in Sasti Dulhan Mahenga Dulha. Later he became the baddie who looked menacing but for some reason threw in the towel too soon. For me, he'll always be the dude in leather pants carrying a film camera on a railway track from Lehren, the video magazine.
— Gautam Chintamani (@GChintamani) February 9, 2019
Feature image courtesy: India TV News
