Mumbai: Dinesh Phadnis, who was best known for playing the role of Fredericks in the long-running TV show CID, passed away on Monday night at the age of 57. He was suffering from lung-related issues and was on ventilator support at Tunga Hospital in Mumbai.
His close friend and co-star Dayanand Shetty, who played the role of Daya in CID, confirmed the news of his demise to ETimes. He said, “Yes, he is no more among us. This happened at around 12.8 minutes late in the night. I am at his house right now. At present everyone from the CID team is present here. His last rites will be performed today at Daulat Nagar crematorium.”
Phadnis had been a part of CID since its inception in 1998 and entertained the viewers with his comic timing and witty dialogues. He had also written some of the episodes of the show. He had a huge fan following on social media, where he used to share his photos and comedy videos.
Apart from CID, Phadnis has also acted in some Bollywood films, such as Sarfarosh with Aamir Khan, Mela with Aamir Khan and Twinkle Khanna, Officer with Suniel Shetty, and Super 30 with Hrithik Roshan. He also made a cameo appearance in the popular sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. He had also written for a Marathi film Bharla Ha Malavat Raktan, which was his debut film in 1993.
Phadnis was born on November 2, 1966, in Bihar, India. He had a passion for acting since his childhood and pursued his dream in Mumbai. He is survived by his wife and two children.
His co-stars and colleagues from the industry expressed their grief and condolences on social media. Shivaji Satam, who played the role of ACP Pradyuman in CID, said, “He was a very good friend and a very good actor. He was very lively and always made us laugh. He will be missed a lot.” Aditya Srivastava, who played the role of Abhijeet in CID, said, “He was a very talented and versatile actor. He had a great sense of humor and a positive attitude. He was like a brother to me. I am shocked and saddened by his sudden death.” Anup Soni, who hosted the show Crime Patrol, said, “He was a very humble and kind person. He had a lot of respect for his seniors and juniors. He was very passionate about his work and always gave his best. He was a gem of a person. May his soul rest in peace.”
