Mumbai: The Bollywood film industry has lost one of its most beloved and talented comedians, Mehmood Jr., who passed away on Wednesday, December 8, 2023, at the age of 67. Mehmood Jr., whose real name was Naeem Syed, succumbed to stage four stomach cancer at his home in Mumbai, after fighting the disease for a month. His demise has left his fans, friends, and colleagues in a state of shock and grief.
Mehmood Jr. was known for his impeccable comic timing and versatile acting skills. He started his career as a child artist in 1967, with the film ‘Naunihaal’, starring Sanjeev Kumar. He went on to act in more than 100 films, spanning over five decades, and worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Raj Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Govinda.
Some of his most memorable films include ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’, ‘Mera Naam Joker’, ‘Do Raaste’, ‘Jo Caravan’, ‘Dadagiri’, ‘Brahmachari’ and ‘Judai’. He also played the lead role in the 1974 film ‘Kunwara Baap’. He was last seen in the 2011 film ‘Life Ki Toh Lag Gayi’, in which he played a cameo role.
Mehmood Jr. was also a close friend of many celebrities, such as Johnny Lever, Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Rishi Kapoor, and Shakti Kapoor. Recently, Johnny Lever and Jeetendra visited him at his residence and shared a video of their meeting, in which they requested the fans to pray for his recovery. However, their prayers could not save him from the clutches of death.
According to media reports, Mehmood Jr.’s funeral will take place today at the Santa Cruz cemetery after the afternoon prayer. His family, friends, and fans are expected to pay their last respects to the departed soul. The film fraternity has also expressed their condolences and tributes on social media, remembering his contribution to the industry and his legacy of laughter.
