Year-Ender 2024: From Zakir Hussain To Shyam Benegal, Celebs Who Passed Away This Year

From legendary singers, classical musicians, to much-loved television personalities, many popular faces left us in 2024. Renowned musicians and filmmakers including Pankaj Udhas, Sharda Sinha, Zakir Hussain, and Shyam Benegal, left for the heavenly abode but their memories will live on forever in our hearts and will be remembered for their unmatched contribution. 

With 2024 nearing the end, here's the list of Indian celebs who died this year.

Shyam Benegal

Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, the pioneer of Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s passed away on December 23, at the age of 90. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital, where he breathed his last. He was cremated on December 24 with state honours.

Zakir Hussain

Zakir Hussain, one of the world's greatest tabla players, died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (a lung disease), on December 16, at a hospital in San Francisco, United States. The legendary percussionist was laid to rest on December 19, in San Francisco.

MT Vasudevan Nair

Malayalam director and writer MT Vasudevan Nair passed away on December 25, at the age of 91. He penned several novels, short stories, essays, and screenplays. Nair has left behind a legacy of literary masterpieces.

Ustad Rashid Khan

Music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan died at a hospital in Kolkata on January 9 after a prolonged battle with cancer. The classical singer was 55. Khan was laid to rest in his hometown of Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, with state honours.

Pankaj Udhas

Ghazal maestro and playback singer Pankaj Udhas passed away on February 26 due to a prolonged illness. He was 72. Udhas breathed his last at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Post his demise, Pankaj Udhas' family released a statement shared by his daughter, Nayaab Udhas. It read: "With a very heavy heart, we are saddened to inform you of the sad demise of Padmashri Pankaj Udhas on 26th February due to a prolonged illness. Udhas family."

Sharda Sinha

Sharda Sinha, also known as the "Begum Akhtar of Mithila" and often called "Bihar Kokila," passed away on November 5 after a prolonged battle with multiple myeloma. For over five decades, she lent her voice to folk songs in Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Magahi.

Rohit Bal

Renowned designer Rohit Bal died on Diwali, November 1, 2024. He was 63. Bal was suffering from a severe heart condition. His mortal remains were buried at Delhi라이브 바카라 Lodhi Crematorium.

Rituraj Singh 

Rituraj passed away on February 20. He was reportedly suffering from pancreatic disease and was hospitalized following a cardiac arrest. He was only 59. Singh appeared in several shows and films including Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Kutumb, Anupamaa, Satyamev Jayate 2, Yaariyan 2, and Badrinath Ki Dulhania among others.

Suhani Bhatnagar

Suhani Bhatnagar, who played the character of young Babita Phogat in Aamir Khan starrer Dangal, died on February 16, at the age of 19. She was reportedly suffering from numerous illnesses and was undergoing treatment at the All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

Atul Parchure

Actor Atul Parchure passed away on October 14 at the age of 57. He was battling cancer for the past few years. Parchure appeared in numerous comedy shows like The Kapil Sharma Show, RK Laxman Ki Duniya, Yam Hain Hum, Badi Doooor Se Aaye Hain, and Jaago Mohan Pyaare, among others.

Vikas Sethi

Vikas Sethi, one of the popular actors of the 2000s, best known for TV shows such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahiin To Hoga, and Sasural Simar Ka, passed away in Nashik on September 8 in his sleep following a cardiac arrest. He was 48.

Smriti Biswas

Veteran actress Smriti Biswas, who worked in several Hindi, Marathi and Bengali films, died on July 3, at her residence in Nashik, Maharashtra. She was 100. Smriti Biswas died due to age-related issues.

Meena Ganesh

Veteran Malayalam actress Meena Ganesh, died on December 19, at Shoranur in Palakkad. She was 81. She was undergoing treatment for the last five days following a cerebral stroke.

Vijay Kadam

Veteran Marathi actor Vijay Kadam passed away on August 10 after his long battle with cancer. He was 67. Kadam was a renowned actor in the Marathi film industry. His contributions to theatre, film, and television, are immense.

Sangeeth Sivan

Renowned Malayalam and Hindi filmmaker-screenwriter Sangeeth Sivan died on May 8. He delivered critically acclaimed Malayalam classics such as Vyooham, Gandharvam, and Nirnayam among others. He also helmed Bollywood movies including Kyaa Kool Hai Hum, Apna Sapna Money Money, and Yamla Pagla Deewana 2.

Dwarakish

Veteran actor, producer, and director Bungle Shama Rao Dwarakanath, popularly known as Dwarakish, died on April 16. He passed away after a cardiac arrest in Bengaluru. Dwarakish has been a prominent figure in the Kannada film industry.

Kanakalatha

Veteran Malayalam actress, Kanakalatha, died on May 6 at her residence in Thiruvananthapuram at the age of 63. She was battling Parkinson라이브 바카라 and dementia. Over her career span, she appeared in over 360 films.

Uma Ramanan 

Renowned playback singer, Uma Ramanan, passed away due to ill health on May 1. She was 69. Her contribution to the Tamil music is immense. Ramanan also wowed audiences with over 6,000 live performances throughout her career of 35 years.

Visweswara Rao

Popular Tamil actor and comedian Visweswara Rao died on April 2 after battling cancer. Rao who tarted his career as a child artist, worked in over 300 Tamil and Telugu movies in his career.

Daniel Balaji

Tamil actor, Daniel Balaji died on March 29 due to heart attack at a private hospital in Kottivakam. He was 48.

Kumar Shahani

Veteran filmmaker Kumar Shahani died in Kolkata on February 24, at the age of 83. Shahani, who was a FTII Pune alumni, was known for films like Maya Darpan, Tarang, Khayal Gatha, and Kasba.