What Happened to Gufi Paintal? Mahabharat Famed Shakuni Mama Actor Passed Away at 79
Gufi Paintal, a veteran actor who played the iconic role of Shakuni mama in the epic TV serial “Mahabharat”, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2023, at a hospital in Mumbai due to age-related health issues. He was 79 years old and is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild.
A life in entertainment
Gufi Paintal, whose real name was Saravjit Singh Paintal, was born in a Sikh family in Delhi. He joined the army before pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, following the footsteps of his elder brother Kanwarjit Singh Paintal, who was a popular comedian and actor in Bollywood.
Gufi Paintal started his journey as a casting director and then ventured into acting in films and TV shows. He made his debut in the 1977 film Parvarish, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna. He went on to act in several movies such as Suhaag, Dillagi, Des Pardes, Maidaan-E-Jung and others.
However, he gained fame and recognition for his portrayal of Shakuni, the cunning and manipulative uncle of the Kauravas, in B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat, which aired from 1988 to 1990. His performance as the scheming villain was widely appreciated and made him a household name.
He also appeared in many TV shows such as CID, Ssshhhh…Koi Hai, Akbar Birbal, Karmaphal Daata Shani, Karn Sangini and RadhaKrishn among others. His last TV show was Jai Kanhaiyya Lal Ki on Star Plus.
A sudden demise
Gufi Paintal had been suffering from blood pressure and heart problems for a while and was admitted to a hospital in Andheri on May 31, 2023, after his condition worsened. His nephew Hiten Paintal informed the media about his health status and said that he was critical but stable.
However, on June 5, 2023, he breathed his last at around 9 am. His heart gave up and he passed away peacefully in his sleep, according to Hiten Paintal. His cremation took place at around 4 pm in Andheri.
Tributes pour in
The news of Gufi Paintal’s death shocked and saddened the entertainment industry and his fans. Many celebrities and co-stars paid their last respects and condolences to the departed soul.
Puneet Issar, who played Duryodhan in Mahabharat, said that he was deeply saddened by the loss of his friend and colleague. He said that Gufi Paintal was a very talented actor and a wonderful human being.
Surendra Pal, who played Dronacharya in Mahabharat, said that he was shocked to hear about Gufi Paintal’s demise. He said that he had worked with him for two years and had a great rapport with him. He said that Gufi Paintal was a very humble and down-to-earth person.
Kanwarjit Singh Paintal, Gufi Paintal’s brother, broke down during the last rites and called him a father-like figure. He said that he was very close to him and that he will miss him terribly.
Many fans also took to social media to express their grief and pay tribute to Gufi Paintal. They remembered his iconic role as Shakuni mama and praised his acting skills. They also prayed for his soul to rest in peace.
Gufi Paintal will always be remembered for his contribution to Indian cinema and television. He will always be immortalized as Shakuni mama in the hearts of millions of viewers who grew up watching Mahabharat.
Source: News in Bollywood
