The Indian film industry is in mourning following the sudden demise of actor Mukul Dev, who passed away on May 23, 2025, at the age of 54. Known for his versatile performances across Hindi, Punjabi, and South Indian cinema, as well as television, Dev's death has prompted an outpouring of grief and heartfelt tributes from colleagues and fans alike. The actor had reportedly been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for about a week, battling health complications.

Among those deeply affected by the news is filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who shared an emotional tribute to his late friend on social media. Mehta, who collaborated with Dev on the film 'Omerta' and several unreleased projects, expressed his profound sorrow and reflected on their close bond. In his heartfelt post, Mehta wrote about how he will deeply miss Dev's "booming laughter," his "unmatched gift for storytelling," and his "unmistakable voice." He further added that he and Dev bonded over "booze, broken hearts, and the foolish hope that things would one day make sense." Mehta also acknowledged Dev's immense potential, lamenting that he never truly reached the heights he deserved in the industry, despite having "a dream launch, big directors, [and] prominent co-stars."

According to Vindu Dara Singh, Mukul was depressed after the demise of his mother and wasn't looking after his health. He also mentioned that they were waiting for Mukul to join them for the photo shoot of Son of Sardaar 2, but he had stopped answering their calls.

Mukul Dev's career spanned over 60 films in multiple languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu. Some of his notable film credits include "Son of Sardaar", "R... Rajkumar", and "Jai Ho". He made his Bollywood debut in 1996 with the film "Dastak", opposite Sushmita Sen and also appeared in popular television shows such as "Gharwali Uparwali," "Kumkum," and "Kutumb." His last film was "Anth The End" in 2022, and he was last seen on TV in "21 Sarfarosh" (2018) and the web series "State of Siege: 26/11" (2020).

Several other members of the film fraternity have also expressed their condolences. Ajay Devgn, who worked with Dev in "Son of Sardaar," said he was "still trying to process it" and that Dev had "a way of making everything lighter, even on the heaviest days." Manoj Bajpayee, who shared screen space with Dev in "Dastak," described him as a "brother in spirit" and an artist whose "warmth and passion were unmatched." Arshad Warsi, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and Sonu Sood also shared heartfelt messages, remembering Dev as a wonderful person and a powerhouse performer.

Mukul Dev is survived by his daughter, Sia Dev, and his siblings, Rashmi Kaushal and Rahul Dev. Rahul Dev shared news of his brother's passing on Instagram, informing that the cremation was held in New Delhi.