Bollywood Celebrities Who Breathed Their Last In 2026
Posted On: 12 Jan 2026 | Last Updated : 04 Mar 2026 | Views : 1.0k
The year 2026 marked a period of deep reflection for Bollywood as the industry bid farewell to several celebrated artists who breathed their last. Their passing left an irreplaceable void, reminding audiences of cinema’s fleeting yet powerful nature. From unforgettable performances and timeless songs to characters etched permanently in popular culture, these celebrities shaped generations of storytelling and stardom. Tributes poured in from colleagues and fans alike, celebrating lives devoted to the art of entertainment. As Bollywood mourned its losses, it also revisited cherished memories, honoring the enduring legacies of icons whose work will continue to inspire long after 2026.
1. Prashant Tamang (Actor / Playback Singer) (4 January 1983 – 11 January 2026)
Popular actor and playback singer and winner of ‘Indian Idol Season 3’ in 2007, Prashant Tamang breathed his last on 11 January, 2026 at a hospital in Dwarka, New Delhi. As per reports, the singer who had turned 43 on 4 January, 2026, had suffered a cardiac arrest while asleep. Born in Darjeeling, West Bengal, Prashant, who was serving in the Kolkata police, had featured in Hindi and Nepali music albums and also ventured into Nepali films like Gorkha Paltan (2010), Nishani (2014), Pardesi (2015) and Ye Maya Hanaima (2016). He was also seen in the second season of Amazon Prime’s crime thriller series Pataal Lok and will appear alongside Salman Khan in the upcoming war drama Battle of Galwan in 2026. He is survived by his wife, Martha Aley.
2. S. P. Venkatesh (Music Director) (5 March 1955 – 3 February 2026)
Renowned veteran music director S.P. Venkatesh passed away on February 3, 2026, at his residence in Chennai, marking one of the notable Bollywood deaths in 2026. He was 70 and is believed to have died following a cardiac arrest. A towering figure of the Malayalam film industry’s Golden Age, Venkatesh composed music for over 150 Malayalam films and created nearly 500 songs across Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Hindi cinema, leaving behind a rich and enduring musical legacy. Though he didn’t compose for Hindi movies but was known for providing background scores for movies including Muskurahat (1992), Mera Dil Tere Liye (1992), Gardish (1993), Virasat (1997), Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001), Hungama (2003) and Kyon Ki (2005).
3. Sunil Thapa (Actor) (19 May 1957 – 6 February 2026)
Nepali, Hindi and Bhojpuri films supporting actor, Sunil Thapa, died of a heart attack in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 6 February 2026 at the age of 68. Sunil Thapa thus joins the list of Bollywood celeb deaths of 2026 who was born in Dang, Nepal, and had appeared in over 300 Nepali films. He is best remembered for his iconic portrayal of Rate Kaila in the 1991 cult classic, Chino, a performance that remains one of the most unforgettable in the history of Nepali cinema. He began his career as a model in Mumbai in 1974. He got his first break in the Bollywood film Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), which was followed by movies such as Aaj Ki Awaz (1984), Shapath (1984), Albela (1986), Manav Hatya (1986), Manu The Great (1989), Naseebwaala (1992), Humshakal (1992), and Mary Kom (2014). He also featured in Manoj Bajpayee’s web series The Family Man 3 in 2025.
4. Anand Sagar (Producer / Director) (1941 – 13 February 2026)
Son of legendary filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, Anand Sagar died on 13 February 2026 at the age of 84 at his residence in Mumbai. The well-known film and television serial producer and director was suffering from age-related health issues for a while. He belonged to the second generation of the Sagar Arts production house. He started his career by serving as executive producer to his father’s blockbuster movie Ankhen (1968). He directed notable films including Hamrahi (1974), Ram Bharose (1977), Pyaara Dushman (1980), Armaan (1981), and Baadal (1985). He also produced and directed several popular TV serials, including Alif Laila, Jai Jai Jai Bajrang Bali, Sai Baba, Surya Puran and the remake of Ramayan. He is survived by his wife, Nisha Sagar; son, Shakti Sagar; daughter, Gauri Sagar; son, Amar Sagar; daughter-in-law, Vaishali Sagar; granddaughter, Aanya Sagar; and grandson, Arjun Sagar.
5. M. M. Baig (Actor / Writer / Director) (1955 – 14 February 2026)
Veteran filmmaker, actor and writer M. M. Baig, father of popular 80s child artist Baby Guddu, was found dead at his residence in Mumbai on 14 February 2026 at the age of 70. M. M. Baig began his career in 1983 as an assistant director to Saawan Kumar for the film Souten. He later associated with well-known filmmakers such as J. Om Prakash, Vimal Kumar, and Rakesh Roshan. He featured in films including Agreement (1980) and Razia Sultan (1983). He made his directorial debut with the Naseeruddin Shah starrer Masoom Gawah, which was never released. His only released directorial remains the Shilpa Shirodkar and Deepak Tijori starrer, Chhoti Bahoo (1994). He wrote the screenplay for the Govinda starrer Dost Garibon Ka (1989).
6. Praveena Deshpande (Actress) (1965 – 17 February 2026)
Veteran Marathi and Hindi film, theatre, web series, and television actress Praveena Deshpande passed away at her Mumbai residence on 17 February 2026, at the age of 60, after a prolonged battle with cancer. Over the years, she carved a distinct place for herself with memorable performances in films such as Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008), Ready (2011), Bombay Talkies (2013), D-Day (2013), Ek Villain (2014), Gabbar Is Back (2015), Aligarh (2016), Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018), Jalebi (2018), Hacked (2020), and Love-All (2023). On television, she appeared in popular shows like Ghar Ek Mandir, Kumkum, Karam Apnaa Apnaa, and Kulfi Kumar Bajewala. She was last seen in the Emraan Hashmi–starrer Netflix series Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web in 2026.
7. Vijay Crishna (Actor) (1945 - 3 March 2026)
Vijay Crishna was a Hindi film and theatre actor best known for portraying Jairaj Parekh in Mahesh Dattani's play Dance Like A Man, passed away on 3 March 2026 at his residence in Mumbai. He began his film career with a small role in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982). Over the years, he appeared in several notable films such as Devdas (2002), Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii (2007), Guzaarish (2010) and PK (2014). He is survived by his wife Smita and daughters Nyrika and Freyan.
8. Mahendra Bohra (Writer / Producer) (3 July 1946 – 4 March 2026)
Noted writer-producer Mahendra Bohra breathed his last in Mumbai on 4 March 2026 at the age of 79. He began his journey as a producer with the 1975 Tamil film Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati. Later, he moved to Hindi cinema and produced films such as Tejaa (1990), Takkar (1995), Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna (2019) and My Pink Shoes (2022). He was the father of actor Karanvir Bohra.
