Noted Hindi film actor and theatre director Dinesh Thakur, known for his lead role in Rajnigandha , passed away in Mumbai early on Thursday. He was 65 years old.
Mr. Thakur had been ailing for the past three years. “He suffered from multiple organ failure,” Atul Tiwari, theatre personality and a friend of Mr. Thakur told The Hindu on the phone.
“Mr. Thakur was at the forefront of new Hindu theatre as well as new cinema,” Mr. Tiwari said.
The actor starred in several acclaimed films such as Mere Apne , Rajnigandha , Aamne Samne and Ghar . He won a Filmfare award in the best story category for Ghar .
For 26 years, he led a theatre group called ANK Productions. His oldest and popular theatre production is Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya .
Mr. Thakur entered the theatre movement with a role in Adhe Adhure , written by celebrated playwright Mohan Rakesh. The last play Mr. Thakur directed was Ravindranjali .
“Mr. Thakur died with his boots on. Towards the end he used to direct from his wheelchair. He had started the trend of speaking to the audience at the end of the play. His interaction was not related to the subject of the play. That was a great takeaway. This has become a fashion now,” Mr. Tiwari said.
Mr. Thakur is survived by his actor wife Preeta Mathur. He was cremated at Oshiwara in the city on Thursday evening.
Thakur suffered from multiple organ failure He was at the vanguard of new Hindu theatre and cinema
