The year 2025 turned out to be very challenging for the Indian film and music industry. It marked an era when people who were a presence within our sights and experiences began passing away. The truth about life is that people will leave, and some will enter but it becomes hard as things change, and life becomes no more than it initially seemed with someone who had smiled and emerged into our sight. We have missed some people, but we will not forget them. That’s what they say: ‘Jeevan ka matlab toh aana aur jaana hai’. But what about the space that’s created as people leave? They refer to it as ‘Even time itself couldn’t fill it up. The year 2025 was full of that. There were legends, there were faces we loved, there were artists who were a part of our daily lives, quietly departed.
1. Dharmendra: 24 November 2025
Dharmendra was among the biggest stars of Indian cinema and had an acting career of almost 65 years. Although he began with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, he acted in several evergreen films like Sholay, Phool Aur Patthar, Bandini, Chupke Chupke, and Yaadon Ki Baraat. He was also given the nickname “He-Man” within the film industry, and he added a special flavour and identity to Hindi cinema. Apart from acting, Dharmendra served as a politician and received very honoured awards like the Padma Bhushan for his art. Dharmendra took his last breath on 24th November 2025 at the ripe age of 89. Although he is no more, his contribution to cinema will remain with us.
2. Satish Shah: 25 October 2025
Satish Shah was an Indian film and television actor who had starred in numerous shows and films. The actor will be remembered for his outstanding performance as ‘Indravadhan Sarabhai’ in ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’ and for ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’, ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, ‘Main Hoon Na’, and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, among several others. Satish Shah began his acting career in the 1970s and 1980s and acted in more than 250 shows and films. The actor bid a sad goodbye to the world on October 25, 2025, as he took his last breath due to kidney failure at the age of 74.
3. Zubeen Garg: 19 September 2025
A well-known Indian music composer, singer, and actor who had an impressive collection of more than 40,000 songs, he composed these throughout his career from 1992 to 2025. He spoke more than 40 languages, which include Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi, and he also played various instruments very effortlessly. His music created a separate identity among Assamese and Eastern Indian music cultures. It would not be wrong to call Zubeen Garg Assam’s biggest influence on music. He died on 19th September 2025 while swimming in a sea in Singapore.
4. Govardhan Asrani: 20 October 2025
Asrani is counted among the most proficient comedy actors of the Hindi film industry, passed away due to Prolonged Illness. Asrani acted in more than 350 films. His magnificent performance as the jailer in ‘Sholay’ will be remembered as a piece of film history. His comedy performances in ‘Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Namak Halaal’, and ‘Hera Pheri’ will be remembered as an unforgettable contribution. Asrani took training from ‘FTII’.
5. Sulakshana Pandit: 6 November 2025
Sulakshana Pandit was a very popular actress and playback singer of the 1970s and 1980s who passed away due to Cardiac Arrest. A product of the very illustrious musical lineage of the Pandit family, Sulakshana acted in some very significant films like Uljhan, Sankoch, Khandaan, and Apnapan. As a playback singer, she rendered some very memorable songs with Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, and Lata Mangeshkar. It would not be wrong to state that she will always be remembered for her presence and voice on screen.
6. Pankaj Dheer: 15 October 2025
Pankaj Dheer was a very successful TV and film actor of the 1980s and 1990s. His iconic character as Karna in the TV series Mahabharata brought fame and recognition to his career as an actor. Some of his successful films include Saugandh, Soldier, and Refuse to Die. Apart from being an actor, he has also worked as a filmmaker and played an important role as a trainer for emerging artists. Pankaj passed away on 15th October due to Cancer.
7. Manoj Kumar: 4 April 2025
Manoj Kumar is known as the ‘Bharat Kumar’ of Indian cinema passed away on April 4 at 87 due to heart-related complications. Manoj Kumar was among the very few actors who acted in the ‘60s and ‘70s and had a large dose of patriotic elements in his storyline. ‘Upkar’, ‘Purab Aur Paschim’, ‘Shaheed’, and ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan’ are some of her most iconic films. It’s because of her fine storytelling skills, direction, and acting abilities that she will be remembered as an unforgettable chapter in the history of Indian cinema. She has also received the Padma Shri and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
8. Shefali Jariwala: 27 June 2025
Shefali Jariwala passed away from a suspected cardiac arrest at age 42. She is still remembered for her superhit song “Kaanta Laga” from the 2000s. It was this music video that made her an overnight sensation. She then went on to participate in the reality show “Bigg Boss 13.” Her sudden demise shocked her fans and family. It was her composed and straightforward approach that made headlines. She still retains a presence in the pop world.
9. Pritish Nandy: 8 January 2025
Pritish Nandy died of a cardiac arrest on January 8, at the age of 73. He was a well-known poet, columnist, journalist, and filmmaker. As the founder of Pritish Nandy Communications, he made some successful ventures like Chameli, Jhankaar Beats, Shabd, and Kaante. It can be said that he holds equal importance in literature as well as journalism. His poetry and columns in the 1970s and 1980s added an essence to Indian English literature. He has also been honoured with the Padma Shri.
10. B. Saroja Devi: 14 July 2025
B. Saroja Devi was one of the biggest stars ever in South Indian cinema. She hit four big South Indian film industries: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. During the 1950s and 1970s, all directors wanted her as the heroine, and directors and fans proclaimed her as “Kannada Cinema’s Queen.” Her big hits are Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu, Parasmani, and Sasural. She had unparalleled beauty, elegance, and acting talent.
11. Ravikumar Menon: 4 April 2025
Ravikumar Menon, also known as R. Menon, is counted among the influential directors and actors of the Malayalam cinema industry passed away on 4th April at the age of 71 due to Lung Cancer. He had brought out a list of family dramas and commercial productions, which were highly successful and preferred by the audience. Mostly, he wrote about relationships, emotions, and societal matters.
12. C. Krishnaveni: 16 February 2025
C. Krishnaveni was a legendary actress and producer from the early period of Indian cinema. C. Krishnaveni acted in several Tamil and Telugu productions during the 1930s and 1940s and later began film production. C. Krishnaveni was among the very few women who made an impact on and as a part of the Indian cinematic industry. We lost her due to age-related issues.
13. Kota Srinivasa Rao: 13 July 2025
Kota Srinivasa Rao was one of the most admired character artistes in Telugu cinema who passed away on 13 July at the age of 83 in Hyderabad due to prolonged illness. He acted in more than 750 films and brought various characters, be it bad, comical, or emotional ones, with consummate ease. Even today, performances in Aa Naluguru, Aha Naa Pellanta, and Rakshasudu are still cited as masterpieces. Awards at national as well as state levels have been obtained.
14. Dheeraj Kumar: 15 July 2025
Dheeraj Kumar has been known as an actor, director, and producer. He has produced several religious and historical serials on television, but some very popular ones among these include ‘Om Namah Shivay’ and ‘Sai Baba’. Dheeraj Kumar brought religious content to Indian television with some of these productions. He passed away on 15th July at the age of 80.
15. Rajvir Jawanda: 8 October 2025
Punjabi singer and actor Rajvir Jawanda died on October 8, from severe head and spine injuries in a Chandigarh road accident.
He was one of the budding stars of the Punjabi music industry. His voice and earthy lyrics were highly appreciated and adopted by the youth. Patiala Shahi, Mera Dil Yaar Da, and Kangani are some of his busters. His singing skills as a folk artist had been properly polished as well.
16. Jaswinder Bhalla: 22 August 2025
Jaswinder Bhalla was counted among the biggest comedy legends from Punjabi cinema. His comedy manner and timing on-screen within movies like Carry On Jatta, Lucky Di Unlucky Story, and Jatt and Juliet have become a vital essence introduced within Punjabi pop culture. Unfortunately, we lost him on 22 August due to a Stroke.
17. Zarine Khan: 7 November 2025
Zarine Khan, who is remembered as a dignified and gentle soul within the film industry, passed away at 81 years old in November due to Cardiac arrest. She was married to veteran actor Sanjay Khan and the mother of actor Zayed Khan. Born Parsi, her family nickname before marriage was ‘Katrak’. She took her departure because of old age and illness.
Zayed Khan, her son, conducted her funeral with a heavy heart as per Hindu rituals.
18. Sandhya Shantaram: 4 October 2025
Sandhya Shantaram was a noted actress of Hindi and Marathi cinema and the wife of legendary film director V. Shantaram. She died at 94. The last rites were conducted at Vaikunth Dham at Shivaji Park, Dadar. Relatives and friends attended.
The entry of Sandhya into films took place with Amar Bhoopali in 1952. V. Shantaram personally noticed her for that role. Sandhya herself was not a trained dancer. However, her co-star Gopi Krishna and she took intense practice for Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. It is one of the national award-winning films.
Sandhya added a special sparkle to the Indian cinema scene in the 1950s and ‘60s. The acting skills and dancing and expressions in Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Navrang, Pinjara, and Jhanak Jhanak Payaal Baaje made her an icon for that period.
She made a special appearance at the V. Shantaram Awards in 2009, as it marked the 50th anniversary of ‘Navrang’.
19. Rishabh Tandon: 21 October 2025
Rishabh Tandon, alias Fakir, passed away at a very young age, just 35 years old, due to a heart attack in October 2025. Rishabh is a singer, composer, and actor based in Mumbai.
His speciality included a spiritual and soulful music genre. His albums, Faqeer, Living Limitless, made him a truly special artist. The richness and simplicity associated with his voice touched people’s hearts. Rishabh had a liking for animals, preferred working alone, and had a heart full of kindness and simplicity towards people. His unexpected death left everyone, including music enthusiasts, shocked.
20. Piyush Pandey: 24 October 2025
Piyush Pandey, an extremely influential and well-respected name within the advertising world in India, passed on at 70 years old in October 2025. Piyush Pandey died due to complications from a serious infection/pneumonia in Mumbai.
Piyush Pandey changed the character and parlance of advertising so effectively that he made an indelible impact on the nation. It’s a fact that he led several successful campaigns as a creative soul with Cadbury, Fevicol, Asian Paints, IPL, and so on.
His creative and imaginative thoughts brought Indian advertising in touch with the emotions and comedy of the common man.
The year 2025 brought us a very hard lesson about a fact that we never want to believe: Those who leave will be gone. The year quietly reminded us that life moves on, but some faces, some voices, some art remain forever in the heart. Those who gave us smiles, memories, feelings they truly never go away. The light they leave behind will continue to guide us in the times to come.