Gufi Paintal passes away: Co-actor Mukesh Khanna reacalls moments shared with 'Shakuni Mama'

Veteran actor Gufi Paintal passed away on Monday, June 5. The actor, renowned for his portrayal of Shakuni Mama in Mahabharat, breathed his last at a hospital in Mumbai. The funeral has been scheduled for Monday evening at 4 pm. Following Gufi's demise, Mukesh Khanna recollected their shared moments. Mukesh played the role of Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharat.

"I had been in touch with his son for a week now. He was hospitalized and in poor health. I received the news of his death at 9 am this morning," shared Khanna. "His condition had been deteriorating over a long period. He underwent dialysis, slipped into a semi-coma, and briefly regained consciousness yesterday. The doctor considered it a miracle, but unfortunately, his condition worsened. His kidneys were severely affected," he added.

Mukesh mentioned that he was unable to visit Gufi during his final days in the hospital. However, he recalled their last conversation, which occurred through text messages. "It has been over six months since he could not speak. I messaged him once, asking, 'Gufi, how are you?' He replied, 'Mukesh, not well.' His son once attempted to connect us on a call," he said.

The actor known for his role in Shaktimaan revealed that Gufi was the one who selected him for Mahabharat. "Gufi was the person from the entire Mahabharata team I was most closely attached to. He cast me for the show. We had numerous confrontational scenes in Mahabharat. He was a kind-hearted person and managed various aspects of the production, including casting. Our association extended beyond Mahabharat as well. He worked with me in Shaktimaan," Mukesh expressed.

Recalling their cherished memories, Mukesh shared an amusing incident when they visited Allahabad but missed their return flight. "Once, we went for a Kavi Sammelan in Allahabad. It was quite comical. The organizer had arranged a car for us, but we missed our flight upon arrival. Gufi was worried, and I had a shoot to attend. The manager was also anxious, fearing he would be scolded. He suggested that we travel to Lucknow. We went there to catch a train but didn't have tickets. People recognized us and exclaimed, 'Come, come Pitamah, Shakuni Mama.' Then we were treated like royalty," Mukesh concluded.

- PTC PUNJABI