Pune: Noted theatre, film and television actor Vikram Gokhale, who delivered a towering performance as the dignified and stern Hindustani classical music guru in the Bollywood superhit ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ (1999), passed away at a hospital due to multi-organ failure on Saturday. He was 77.

Among those who expressed their condolences on social media were actors Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher and Manoj Bajpayee. “Indian cinema lost (a) gem of an actor,” posted Bajpayee, who acted with him in Aiyyary (2018).

Popular in both Marathi and Hindi films, Gokhale received the National Film Award for best actor for his portrayal of a distressed old man struggling to pay his comatose wife’s medical expenses in Gajendra Ahire’s Marathi film, ‘Anumati’ (2013). And he was first-rate as the confidant of an angst-ridden stage legend in director Mahesh Manjrekar’s ‘Natasamrat’ (2016). Gokhale also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2011 for his contributions to the stage.

“He gave a new dimension to the acting style prevalent on the Marathi commercial stage before the 1970s,” said long-time friend and occasional collaborator Satish Alekar.

Actor and director Amol Palekar, who collaborated with him in the musical ‘Thoda Sa Roomani Ho Jayein’ (1990) said, “I particularly remember his performance in the play ‘Barrister.’ It is a landmark performance in Marathi theatre. Future generations should learn from it. However, theatre did not provide him the roles that were worth his salt. His style of acting, or rather under-acting, was so effective and good, few can achieve with dignity. Unfortunately, the film industry did not provide him his due, particularly the Marathi film industry.”

Versatility was his calling card. The actor lent grace and added depth to the characters he performed. Gokhale’s expressive eyes and commanding voice - he was also a voice coach later - were fundamental to the creation of the socially conservative guru who’s generous at heart but also bound by tradition in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’. And yet, in ‘Thoda Sa Roomani…” he handled the role of a remote town’s district collector, who’s the object of an unfussy young woman’s (Anita Kanwar) secret attraction, with equal aplomb. He also acted in a bunch of TV serials: from ‘Katha Sagar’ and ‘Udaan’ in the DD monopoly days of the 1980s to ‘Virrudh’ and ‘Kuch Apne Kuch Paraye’ in recent decades.

Pune-born Gokhale acted in over 200 films and TV shows and was a worthy descendant of his pioneering ancestors starting with great grandmother Durga Kamat, considered the first actress in Indian cinema, and her daughter, Kamla Kamat, both of whom made their debut in Dadasaheb Phalke’s ‘Mohini Bhasmasur’ (1913).

Gokhale’s father, Chandrakant, was also a veteran of the stage and film, and was also a well-known philanthropist, a tradition carried on by his son. His family supports war veterans at the Queen Mary Technical Institute and works for welfare of orphans.

He also nailed his political colours to the mast, criticizing politicians for casting aspersions on Veer Savarkar.

Gokhale, who had caught everyone’s eye playing Lord Krishna in the 1977 film, ‘Yehi Hai Zindagi’, was recently seen in the Hindi comedy-action flop ‘Nikamma,’ but received critical acclaim in the 2021 Marathi film Godavari (2021).

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Veteran actor Vikram Gokhale, who was undergoing treatment at a multi-speciality hospital in Pune, passed away on Saturday afternoon. He was 77. Shirish Yadgikar, the PRO of the hospital, confirmed the news and said, “It’s with a sad heart that we announce the passing of Mr Vikram Gokhale. He passed away in the afternoon. Our condolences to the family and near ones.”

Gokhale’s family friend Rajesh Damle said, “The last rites were carried out at Pune’s Vaikunth Smashan Bhumi at 6 pm yesterday.”

The senior actor’s condition had been critical for the last few days, and he had been kept on the ventilator. On Friday, the hospital authorities shared that the actor had shown some signs of improvement, but on Saturday morning, they shared that his condition had deteriorated.

As per his family, Gokhale was suffering from multiple health issues and had multi-organ failure, post which he was put on life support.

Throughout the course of his long and successful career, Gokhale appeared in both Hindi and Marathi films. The veteran actor came from a family of actors. His father, Chandrakant Gokhale, was a renowned Marathi theatre and film performer. After working in Marathi theatre at an early age, he made his film debut with the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Parwana when he was 26. Following that he acted in several Marathi and Bollywood films, including Amitabh Bachchan’s Agneepath in 1990 and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam with Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 1999.

The powerhouse performer worked in Bollywood films like Agneepath, Khuda Gawah, Insaaf, Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Mission Mangal and Aiyaary, among others. He made his directorial debut with Aaghaat, a Marathi film that released in 2010. His body of work in the Marathi film industry includes films like Natsamrat, Lapandav, Kalat Nakalat, Vazir, Bala Gau Kashi Angar, Anumati, Mukta, Me Shivaji Park and AB Aani CD.

He was also well-known for the TV show Ya Sukhanno Ya. For his contribution to the world of theatre, he was presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2011. In 2013, his Marathi film Anumati won him the National Film Award in the Best Actor category. This year, he was seen in the Bollywood film Nikamma along with Shilpa Shetty and Abhimanyu Dassani. His Marathi film Godavari released earlier this month. He is survived by his wife, Vrushali Gokhale, and their two children.

At the time of going to press tributes were pouring in from the industry. Sonali Kulkarni said, “With Vikram kaka’s passing, the film industry has lost a true artiste who built his career on hishonest performances and passion. I was fortunate to know him and work with him. He was a source of encouragement for everyone and someone who built a name for himselfacross various platforms and languages. My prayers are with his family and near ones.”

Akshay Kumar posted, “Very sad to know of the demise of Vikram Gokhale ji. Worked with him in films like Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Mission Mangal, had so much to learn from him. Om Shanti (sic).”

Manoj Bajpayee said, “Indian cinema lost a gem of an actor. Had the privilege of working with him in Aiyyari and shared few great moments with him on the set! Saddened to hear about Shri Vikram Gokhale ji’s demise. My thoughts & prayers are with the family (sic).”

—Inputs by Mihir Bhanage and Shashank Sane