From Bollywood to South India: Celebrities who have died in the COVID-19 second wave

Even as India grieves for all the lives lost during the last year’s COVID-19 wave, it is now overwhelmed by the second wave that has crashed down on its shores. And it’s not only the common man; celebrities are no strangers to the coronavirus either. While many including Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have survived a bout with the virus, this story remembers those who have not been as fortunate. Here’s a look at those who succumbed.

Earlier today, Tamil actor Pandu also succumbed to COVID-19 in Chennai. Known for his excellent comic timing and witty dialogues in films, died from complications arising from COVID-19 on May 6. He was 74 and is survived by his wife and three sons. His wife is in the ICU battling the infection now.

Actress Abhilasha Patil, who has acted in several popular Hindi and Marathi films, died in Mumbai due to complications arising from COVID-19. She was 47 and is survived by her mother, her husband, and son. Patil was a part of Bollywood hits including Sushant Singh Rajput’s ‘Chhichhore’, ‘Good Newwz’ and ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’.

Ajay Sharma, who edited Bollywood films such as ‘Jagga Jasoos’, ‘Ludo’, ‘Karwaan’, and the hit web series ‘Bandish Bandits’, died on May 4 due to complications arising from COVID-19 in Delhi. He was working on Taapsee Pannu’s ‘Rashmi Rocket’, before his death.

Music composer Shravan Rathod was 66 when he passed away earlier this month. He and his peer fellow composer Nadeem Saifi are responsible for some of the most famous songs to come out of Bollywood in the 90s including 1991's ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ and ‘Saajan’.

Bollywood actor Satish Kaul suffered complications from COVID-19, succumbing to it on April 10. He was best known for stints in the 1973 romance ‘Prem Parbat’ and in the mythological series ‘Mahabharat’.

Ramu, a Kannada film producer died on Monday evening. He had produced more than 30 films under his Ramu Enterprises banner. Ramu is married to superstar Malashree. They have a daughter and a son together.

Tamil moviemaker Thamira, whose credits include 'Aan Devathai', died at a private hospital in Chennai. Thamira, who made his directorial debut with in 2010 with ‘Rettaisuzhi’, was admitted to Maya Hospital l in Ashok Pillar, Chennai.

Marathi and Bollywood veteran Kishore Nandalsarkar’s movies include ‘Singham’ and ‘Vaastav’, died at the age of 81 in Thane. He’d been battling COVID-19.

Hindustani classic musician Pt Rajan Mishra died of COVID-19 complications in the capital, New Delhi, Delhi on Sunday, soon after his friends and family posted messages of urgency on social media; they were trying to find him a ventilator. He was 70 years old and had been at the St Stephen’s Hospital for the past three days. The musician had taken the first dose of the vaccine about two weeks earlier.

Actress Ryinku Singh Nikumbh, who starred in the Ayushmann Khurrana movie ‘Dream Girl’, has died due to COVID-19 complications. Her cousin Chanda Singh Nikumbh reportedly news site BollywoodLife that she tested positive on May 25 and was in home isolation. “Since her fever was not coming down, we decided to shift her to a hospital after a few days. In the hospital, the doctors didn’t feel that she required an ICU bed and she was in a normal COVID ward initially. The next day, she was shifted to the ICU. She was recovering well in the ICU as well until the day of her demise. In the end, she was losing hope and felt that she couldn’t survive. She was an asthma patient as well,” the cousin said, adding that Ryinku “was full of energy and a bundle of happiness.” Ryinku last starred in the movie ‘Hello Charlie’ with Aadar Jain and Jackie Shroff.